Celebrated MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, reputed chef Monica Galetti and Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing search for the UK’s most exciting cooking talent of 2019. Over seven weeks, 48 professional chefs face the rigours of the MasterChef kitchen before one is crowned this year’s culinary superstar.

In this opening heat, six professional chefs from all over the country arrive at the MasterChef kitchen and put their reputations on the line to stake their claim to the coveted title. The chefs face two daunting challenges - at the end of which, three chefs are sent home and the strongest three go through to this week’s quarter-final.

Each chef begins with the dreaded skills test. Under the watchful eye of all three judges, the initial moments for any competitor are nerve racking as their knowledge, palate and experience are weighed up in this infamous first assessment.

This first skills test this year has been set by Marcus. The chefs have to cook up a poached guinea fowl breast with a sauce robert, with only 20 minutes to display deft butchery skills and show their sauce-making prowess. Marcus’s dish is a culinary classic - will the contestants crash and burn or cook up a storm?

The remaining three chefs face Monica’s test. They must hold their nerve when she challenges them to prepare hand-cut tagliatelle with a lamb ragu. Packing in technique and taste to create the perfect pasta dish is no mean feat for the contenders.

Finally all six professionals have a chance to showcase their style when they cook their own signature dish for Monica, Marcus and Gregg. In an hour and 15 minutes, they must inspire the judges with their creativity, technical ability and flavours. It is their chance to secure a place in the competition, as the judges decide which three are sent home and which three go through to this week’s quarter-final. Show less