MasterChef: The Professionals - Season 16

The show returns for its sixteenth series as 32 ambitious chefs from across the country battle to become the 2023 champion.

Presiding over the UK's most revered cooking competition are Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing, renowned chef Monica Galetti and celebrated MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace, all eager to discover a brand new culinary star.

Over seven weeks, the 32 professional chefs will have their skills, creativity and culinary knowledge put to the test in a series of demanding challenges as the judges hunt out the most impressive talent in the industry. Only the best will be in with a chance of winning the coveted trophy.

In the opening heat, the fight for the title begins as the first four contenders step into the kitchen. To progress in the competition, they must impress in the infamous Skills Test before cooking their own food in the Signature Menu round.

The first two chefs face a Skills Test set by Monica, who gives them 20 minutes to prepare and cook a fillet of brill and serve it with a turnip garnish and a coconut sauce. Can the chefs keep their hands steady enough to fillet the fish perfectly and demonstrate enough cookery knowledge to show they have what it takes?

Marcus sets the Skills Test brief for the next two hopefuls - to poach and pan-fry a portion of guinea fowl, make a sherry hollandaise and serve it with a bitter salad. With only 20 minutes and the judges watching on, their butchery skills and culinary experience are scrutinised like never before.

Finally, all four chefs have one last opportunity to stand out when they cook their own two-course Signature Menu. In one hour and 30 minutes, it's a chance to show off their own style and flair with a main course and dessert fit for the judges.

Only the best chefs will go through to the quarter-final and move a step closer to being crowned MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2023.

In the second heat of the week, four new determined chefs set out to prove to the judges that they have the ability, commitment and style to push them to the top. First, they must control their every move in the daunting Skills Test before serving up two dishes of their own design in the Signature Menu round. With only two quarter-final places up for grabs, the battle is on.

The first two chefs face a Skills Test set by Marcus, who asks them to prepare and cook spiced monkfish and serve it with polenta and a chili butter sauce. Who will have the fish preparation skills and a palate refined enough to meet the exacting standards of all three judges?

The last two chefs have 20 minutes to complete Monica's task, a test of their pastry skills with a twist on a banana sundae. They must include caramelised bananas, a coconut cream, a chocolate sauce and a quick banana ice cream. Who will be able to draw on their experience in pastry to put together the well-executed and tasty dessert the judges are looking for?

The four chefs then have a final chance to impress in the Signature Menu round, in which they have one hour and 30 minutes to serve up a sublime main course and dessert of their own choosing.

Only the two best chefs will go through to the quarter-final and continue their pursuit of the coveted MasterChef: The Professionals title.

This year's first quarter-final sees the strongest five chefs from the first two heats return to battle it out in the MasterChef kitchen.

First, the chefs must think on their feet in an Invention Test, in which they will create an outstanding dish showcasing nuts. They have just ten minutes to choose their ingredients from a selection of nuts, including hazelnuts, pistachios, peanuts, cashews and walnuts, flaked almonds and nut butters, as well as a range of meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, followed by 70 minutes to execute their dishes to perfection. Which of these professionals can dig deep and deliver a restaurant-standard dish with nuts as the star? Only the best will do, as at the end of the round, one chef must leave the competition.

The remaining chefs must then raise their game yet again as they face the daunting task of cooking for three of the UK's most discerning restaurant critics, Jay Rayner, Leyla Kazim and Tracey MacLeod. Can they make an impression for the right reasons and deliver knockout dishes in one of the most intense rounds of the competition?

Only the three most talented chefs will go through to Knockout Week and continue in the battle to become this year's MasterChef: The Professionals Champion.

Four of the country's most determined chefs make the journey to the MasterChef kitchen, ready to battle for the prestigious title. The two challenges ahead of them are set to test their basic knowledge, skill, flair and imagination under the unforgiving gaze of Monica, Marcus and Gregg.

It's no easy start as the chefs face one of the competition's most daunting rounds, the Skills Test. The first brief is designed by Monica, who asks them to make a parsnip dish served with pickled pears and a miso pumpkin sauce. With only 20 minutes to impress, who will have the cookery talent and control to plate up a dish full of flavour? Marcus sets the next test for the remaining two chefs, who must make a dish of poached haddock and cauliflower cheese with two other cauliflower garnishes of their choosing.

Next, the four contenders have a final chance to impress as they cook a two-course Signature Menu of their own creation. They have one hour and 30 minutes to shine with dishes they have created and practised. Who will have the flavour combinations and presentation skills to win over the judges?

Only the two best chefs will go through to the quarter-final and maintain their chance of being crowned MasterChef: the Professionals champion 2023.

In the second heat of the week, four new hopefuls must prove to Monica, Marcus and Gregg that they have the talent, flair and commitment to reach the top. Only the strongest two chefs will go through to the quarter-final at the end of the week.

The infamous Skills Test kicks off the competition. The first two chefs are tasked with completing the challenge set by Monica of preparing and cooking scallops and serving them with carrots and a peanut sauce.

The remaining two chefs must complete Marcus' Skills Test, which requires them to take the flavours of a classic poire belle Helene – poached pears, chocolate and Chantilly cream – and serve them with layered pastry.

In the second challenge, all four contestants have the chance to put the Skills Test behind them and wow the judges with their own Signature Menu. They have one hour and 30 minutes to showcase their style, technique and eye for plating, and serve up a dish worthy of a quarter-final place.

It's the quarter-final, and the four best chefs from this week's heats return to the MasterChef kitchen, where they must prove themselves to the judges in two challenges set to test even the most experienced chefs.

First, the chefs are given an Invention Test with a twist. They must create a dish that showcases one of the four ingredients that are wasted in the UK more than any other – bread, milk, potatoes and bananas. Starting from scratch, they have an hour and 10 minutes to create a stunning dish with one of these ingredients as the star. Only the best will do as at the end of the round, one professional must leave the competition.

Next, the remaining chefs must raise their game yet again as they face the daunting task of cooking for three of the UK's most discerning restaurant critics, Jimi Famurewa, Tom Parker Bowles and Jay Rayner. Can they make an impression for the right reasons and deliver knockout dishes in one of the most intense rounds of the competition?

Only the most talented will make it through to Knockout Week.

The Heats continue as four more brave chefs start their MasterChef journey with their sights set on the title. It's sink or swim as the contenders face the intense glare of the judges in the infamous Skills Test. They then have the chance to show off their individual style in the Signature Menu round. Can they steady their jitters and deliver two outstanding dishes that reach the impeccable standards of the judges?

The first two chefs face Monica's Skills Test as they are challenged to prepare a dish of pork loin served with a bramley apple purée, charred baby gem and a cognac sauce. With only 20 minutes and the judges watching, the chefs will need to cook with precision and flair if they hope to make a good first impression.

Next, it's fish skills for the final two professionals as Marcus challenges them to make a crab bisque served with the crab claw meat and a portion of john dory fish. As the chefs are faced with a whole crab, the judges will be looking for a deft touch.

All four contenders will then have a final chance to make their mark as they cook their own two-course Signature Menu. They have just one hour and 30 minutes to pull out all the stops and show what makes them stand out from the crowd.

Only the two best chefs will go on to this week's quarter-final and continue in the race to become MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2023.

The hunt for the champion continues as Gregg, Monica and Marcus put four new chefs to the test to determine who can withstand the pressure of the MasterChef Kitchen. The daunting Skills Test is followed by a chance for them to show off their own food in the Signature Menu round.

Marcus's Skills Test is first up, and the first two chefs have just 20 minutes to prepare and cook lamb neck with baba ganoush, a pomegranate vinaigrette, and toast. Along with faultless meat cookery, the chefs will be expected to deliver Middle Eastern flavours that pack a punch.

Monica challenges the last two chefs with an absolute classic - apple tarte tatin with a calvados crème anglaise. Will the chefs have the skill to pull off some classic French pastry techniques, or will their apple tarts leave a sour taste in the judges' mouths?

Next, all four professionals get to size up their competition as they each deliver their two-course Signature Menu. It's their chance to show they mean business and have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Only the two most talented chefs will make it to the quarter-final and continue in the battle to take the MasterChef: The Professionals trophy.

It's the quarter-final, and the best four chefs from this week's heats return to face two more daunting challenges set by judges Monica and Marcus. The one that fails to cut the mustard will have their MasterChef dream shattered as they leave the competition.

To start, it's the infamous Invention Test as the four quarter-finalists are asked to prepare and cook a standout tart – a sweet or savoury pastry treat that will blow the competition out of the water. To pile on the pressure, they also need to dish up the perfect accompaniment - a side dish which compliments the flavours of the main event without stealing its thunder. Creativity can run wild as the chefs raid the MasterChef larder for the perfect ingredients to accompany their pastry show-stopper.

Next, they are subjected to one of the most feared of all MasterChef rounds - cooking their own two-course menu for three of the UK's most experienced food critics, Tom Parker Bowles, Jimi Famurewa and Grace Dent. They have just one hour and 15 minutes to turn out four identical portions of each dish that delivers on every front.

The three chefs who impress the most will earn their place in Knockout Week, leaving them one step closer to achieving the goal of becoming MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2023.

It's the last week of heats, and another four ambitious chefs go all out to impress Marcus, Monica and Gregg as their race for the title begins. First, they must prove themselves in the infamous Skills Test, followed by the Signature Menu round which offers them a chance to put their own stamp on the competition.

Up first is Monica's Skills Test, and tonight she challenges two chefs to make crispy squid croquettes served with a garlic mayonnaise. Preparing the squid from scratch is only half the battle, and only those who remain calm will stand any chance of delivering a perfectly cooked seafood treat that delivers a true taste sensation.

The last two chefs are tasked by Marcus to make a sweetbread and caramelised onion tart served with a meat stock vinaigrette. There can be no excuses as, with the pastry case already provided, Marcus will expect every element to be bang on the money. Tender sweetbreads, rich, succulent onions and a punchy dressing - anything less will fall short.

Finally, the four chefs have one last chance to win over the judges as they deliver their Signature Menu – two courses that represent them in the best possible light, and taste as good as they look. Any mistakes could cost them their place in the competition.

Only the best chefs on the day will move forward to the last quarter-final as the race for the MasterChef: The Professionals title continues.

It's the final heat of MasterChef: The Professionals, and the four remaining hopefuls sample the pressure in the MasterChef kitchen across two challenges set by Monica, Marcus and Gregg.

First up is the infamous Skills Test, where the chefs have just 20 minutes to impress. It's Italian night for two contenders as Monica challenges them to make a perfect plate of cavatelli pasta served with chicken oysters, cime di rapa greens and a chicken sauce. To impress, the chefs will need to show a delicate touch as they form perfect pasta shells by hand.

Marcus's Skills Test is next, as the last two chefs in this year's competition are faced with dishing up a pudding - poached pineapple served with a sabayon and some toffee popcorn for good measure. It's time for them to get their creative juices flowing as they aim to deliver a sweet, fruity masterpiece that shows they mean business.

Next up, all four chefs come face-to-face as they each dig deep into their culinary box of tricks to pull out a two-course Signature Menu that, if everything goes well, will leave the judges wanting more. They have just 90 minutes to prove they have enough in the tank to be real contenders for the title.

A tough decision follows as the judges select the chefs who deserve a place in this week's quarter-final, leading them one step closer to their dream of becoming MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2023.

It's the last MasterChef: The Professionals quarter-final, and the four best chefs from this week's heats return to the MasterChef kitchen where Monica and Marcus turn up the heat with two more tough challenges. Things kick off with an Invention Test, followed by the return of three formidable critics who will cast their beady eyes over the chefs' creations. Only the cream of the crop will win one of the last coveted places in Knockout Week.

The first challenge requires the four chefs to deliver a dish that represents sunshine – a bright, light and colourful dish that transports the diner to sunnier climes. To help, the larder is packed with fresh seafood, tropical fruits and summer vegetables. The chefs will need to demonstrate an inventive streak and the technical skill to back it up. Will the judges be reaching for their pina colada, or will they still feel a chill in the air?

Next, the four chefs face their culinary fears head-on as they serve their own two-course menu to three of the country's most revered food critics. They have just one hour and 15 minutes to get to the hearts of the critics and judges through their best plates of food.

Only the three best chefs will keep their dreams alive and secure their place in Knockout Week, and the chance to be crowned MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2023.

After four weeks of hard competition, it's Knockout Week on MasterChef: The Professionals as the 12 most talented chefs left standing come together for the very first time. They will need to up their game and deliver food of an exceptional standard to keep their dream alive.

The week kicks off with a classic Invention Test as the contenders are given free rein to design one outstanding dish from a bountiful larder of ingredients including pigeons, ox cheek, squid, prawns and a whole host of fruit and veg. They will need to push boundaries and take a few risks if they want to stand out from the crowd, as only the seven best chefs will make it through to the next round.

For the remaining five it's do or die as they return to the kitchen to cook for one of the remaining three places in the competition. Using every ounce of energy and imagination, they will raid the larder for a second time in another high-stakes Invention Test. This time, however, they must use the ingredients at hand to produce an extraordinary dessert. Will they have any more inspired ideas, or has their creative well run dry?

At the end of a dramatic day, only the eight most talented chefs will go on to cook another day, as they continue to pursue the MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 crown.

The stakes are high as Knockout Week continues on MasterChef: The Professionals, and the 10 remaining chefs are split into two groups. Over two nights, they will all leave the relative comfort of the MasterChef kitchen for the first time as they strive for a place in the semi-finals.

The first group of five head to central London, where the MasterChef: The Professionals pop-up restaurant is back open for business. Pop-ups have become an integral part of the urban dining scene, offering an eclectic mix of food options in exciting settings. Creative chefs have the opportunity to show off their culinary talent without the overheads associated with a traditional restaurant.

Working in tight-spaced surroundings and sharing workspace, the five contenders will have their work cut out to impress 25 movers and shakers in the food industry, including some big-name pop-up success stories. These people know what it takes to succeed and will expect to be blown away by the dishes on offer. The chef who impresses the most will be rewarded with a pass straight through to the semi-finals.

The four who fail to come out on top will be asked to cook again in the MasterChef kitchen to cement their place in the next round. They are challenged to make their Last Dish on Earth – the one plate of food that they would want to cook if time was running out. Whether they opt for comfort food or a fine dining masterpiece, they have just one hour and 45 minutes to show what they are made of.

At the end of both tasks, four chefs will have secured their spot in the thrilling semi-finals, as the race for the MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 title heats up.

Knockout Week has seen the final 10 contenders split into two groups. The first group has already competed for their place in the semi-finals, and one came to the end of the road.

It's now the turn of the last group of five to get their taste of the real world as they take the helm of the MasterChef: The Professionals pop-up in the heart of central London.

The UK's pop-up scene has gone from strength to strength in recent years, giving up-and-coming chefs an accessible platform from which to show off their culinary prowess. Pop-ups can springboard new brands into the mainstream and enable chefs to become industry titans.

To make their mark, tonight's five contenders will have to cope with confined kitchens as they set out to deliver an exceptional plate to 25 of the UK's best pop-up chefs and food entrepreneurs. These guests have seen it all before, so it will take a stroke of genius to make them sit up and take notice. The chef that manages to impress the most will find their efforts rewarded with a place in the semi-finals.

For the other four chefs, it's now or never as just one dish stands between them and the next level. Their brief back in the MasterChef kitchen is to cook their Last Dish On Earth - the one dish they would choose to cook if they were never to cook again.

The hopefuls' fate lies in the hands of Marcus, Monica and Gregg, who will have the unenviable task of sending one chef back through the kitchen doors. The other three will head to the semi-finals, where a unique adventure takes them closer to becoming MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2023.

After five weeks of fraught competition, it's the semi-finals and eight supremely talented chefs remain standing. It's sink or swim as the semi-finalists cook off against each other for the first time, each with their sights set on the MasterChef: The Professionals trophy.

It's straight in at the deep end with the first task, as professionals are asked to create a dish showcasing two of the most popular ingredients in the world – salt and pepper. They will only have one hour and 45 minutes to deliver a scrumptious plate of food that allows these two seasonings to shine. It's a balancing act, as too much of either can kill a dish, so they must strike the right balance to impress the judges. The hopefuls will need to give it everything they've got, as the best four chefs will be guaranteed to make one of the remaining six places.

The four chefs who fail to make the cut will have one more opportunity to prove their worth as they face an Invention Test with a twist. It's time to deliver a plant-based plate of food. Can they come up with an exciting dish that tickles the taste buds? A huge selection of fruit and veg will be on hand to kick their imagination into overdrive, but only those who push the boundaries can hope to secure one of the last two places in the next round.

Those who deliver will join the four from the previous round and edge closer to the MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 trophy.

The semi-finals continue on MasterChef: The Professionals. Just six incredible chefs are left, split into two groups. The first three will have their wits tested across two challenges that will demand laser focus and determination. High risks will bring high rewards, as the best on the day will continue on their journey to finals week.

To start, the three chefs head into central London where they will manage a lunch service like no other - in the kitchen of a restaurant recently ranked as one of the top 50 in the world - Ikoyi. Founder and chef Jeremy Chan is one of the country's most exciting culinary stars, and nothing gets past him unless it meets the restaurant's two-Michelin-star standard. Tasked with cooking a dish from his staggering 18-course tasting menu, each of the three contenders will need their wits about them if they hope to impress.

Next, it's back to the MasterChef kitchen, where the brief is simple – deliver two dishes worthy of a place in finals week. One main course and one dessert in one hour and 45 minutes that blow the water out of the competition and leave Marcus and Monica with no option but to put them through. It's time to throw caution to the wind and leave nothing on the table, as nobody wants to miss out on the adventure that awaits.

The toughest judging so far will see one chef bite the dust and the other two progress to finals week as the race for the MasterChef: The Professionals title reaches fever pitch.

It's the last of the semi-finals on MasterChef: The Professionals 2023, which has seen the final six chefs split into two groups. The best two from the first group have already been granted access to the ultimate adventure – finals week. Now it's the turn of the last group of three, who will also face two challenges designed to push their culinary ambition to new heights. The one that fails to cut the mustard will see their hopes of winning MasterChef: The Professionals trophy dashed as they leave the competition.

First up, the three semi-finalists head to Staffordshire where they form a brigade working under one of the country's most respected culinary talents, Tom Shepherd, at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd. The three contenders are about to undertake one of the most gruelling yet rewarding lunch services of their careers. Impeccable standards are expected, but only cookery of outstanding Michelin quality will reach the diners. Tom has spent years building his reputation, and today it is down to the three chefs to keep it intact.

The three will head back to the MasterChef kitchen, where they must squeeze out every ounce of energy and deliver two courses which demonstrate an ability to be a real contender for the title. One main and one dessert stand between them and a place in finals week. With the stakes so high, only dishes with stunning execution, and a taste to match, will impress Marcus and Monica.

One chef will be kicking themselves, as only the two best on the day will move forward to the finals. With the finish line in sight, just who has the most left in the tank? The race for the MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 title continues.

It's finals week on MasterChef: The Professionals, and only the strongest four chefs remain. The pressure is on as they take on two tasks requiring skills of the highest order, and the race for the title reaches fever pitch.

First up, the stage is set for one of the most prestigious events in Britain's culinary calendar - Chef's Table. The setting this year is the legendary Midland Grand Dining Room within the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London's King's Cross. For the final four, it's a unique chance to prove their talent to 24 of the most respected chefs in the industry, who share an incredible 22 Michelin stars between them. Guests include Lisa Goodwin-Allen (Northcote 1*), Daniel Clifford (Midsummer House 2*), Gareth Ward (Ynyshir 2*), Matt Abé (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay 3*) and much-loved MasterChef judges, chefs Anna Haugh and Poppy O' Toole.

Cooking for these culinary giants is a huge honour, and the chefs have four hours to prepare one course each for this spectacular dinner. The pressure is on to execute every single element to perfection and send 22 identical, exquisitely presented plates out to the guests.

Next, the four finalists will head back to the MasterChef kitchen as they face one of the most important cook-offs in the competition for a place in the final three. Emotions will run high as Monica, Gregg and Marcus ask them to cook one dish inspired by the place they consider home. As well as stirring passion, the dish must be packed with exceptional cooking prowess that wows the judges. Who can lead the pack in a room already filled with incredible talent?

At the end of this challenge, the judges have the unenviable task of ending the road for one hopeful, as the other three chefs come within touching distance of the MasterChef: The Professionals trophy.

It's finals week on MasterChef: The Professionals, and just three incredible chefs remain. Embarking on the trip of a lifetime to Copenhagen, Denmark, they will enter a world of gastronomy that goes beyond anything they have encountered before.

Their journey will take them to the two Michelin-starred Alchemist. Recently voted the fifth best restaurant in the world, it is run by head chef and mastermind, Rasmus Munk. Entering an old shipyard, the finalists will step into an immersive world where science, art and food collide in breathtaking fashion.

First, the finalists will attend a short masterclass to understand the ethos behind Rasmus' unique holistic food, where dishes are called ‘impressions' for the very reason that they each tell a story designed to elicit an emotion from the diner. Some comforting, some confronting, this is an experience for the bold and the brave. Once inspired, it's down to the three finalists to create their own ‘impression' for Rasmus to taste and critique. Ingredients that would normally go to waste are a mainstay here, including pig's windpipes, cod jaw and cow's udders. So the finalists will have to use their chef's intuition to deliver something truly spectacular.

That's just for starters, as the lucky three will then have the once in a lifetime opportunity to join Rasmus' 25 strong brigade of chefs to deliver a full restaurant service. They will each be responsible for two ‘impressions' from an epic tasting menu that stretches to 50 courses. They will have just hours to deliver food that can take years to master. Expect dumplings made out of candyfloss and screen-printing techniques used to create sweet treats. This is creativity on entirely different scale.

Today's diners include Marcus, Monica and Gregg, who will expect their finalists to wow on every front and deliver dishes that hit Rasmus' two Michelin star standard. The grand final is almost here, so every mouthful matters in the race to take the title.

Seven Weeks of competition have been leading to this moment - the MasterChef: The Professionals grand final. The remaining chefs have the chance to cook themselves into the MasterChef history books as they battle it out for the last time in the most important cook-off of their career.

The three exceptional chefs have already cooked some outstanding, original and breathtaking plates of food to reach this point, and now they face one last challenge - to cook the three most spectacular courses of their lives for the MasterChef judges. In three hours, they must bring together a starter, a main and a dessert of their own creation, surpassing all the culinary ability, technique and knowledge they have demonstrated so far.

All three are hungry for the title, and it will take nothing less than blood, sweat and maybe a few tears to win the trophy. Along with world-class presentation and stunning flavour pairings, the finalists will need to show something extraordinary to stand a chance of being crowned MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 champion.