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The cookery competition returns for its tenth year. Hundreds of people auditioned, and now sixty amateur cooks are through to battle it out over five weeks of heats, producing some of the most exceptional - as well as some of the most disastrous - food ever seen on the series.

In this episode, the first six amateur cooks try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the tenth MasterChef champion. Firstly, in a new test, the contestants are asked to cook their calling card, a practiced dish that represents who they are as a cook and showcases their talent. They have just one hour to dazzle the judges with one plate of food that shows just what they can do.

They then face the infamous invention test, for the first time choosing between two sealed boxes of ingredients - one sweet and one savoury. Also for the first time, chef John Torode takes on this challenge himself, showing the viewers at home just what is possible with the few ingredients. The sweet ingredients include figs, mascarpone, pine nuts, puff pastry and stem ginger in syrup, while the savoury box contains lamb mince, spring onions, beef tomatoes, carrots and aubergines.

The amateurs have just one hour to cook a dish good enough to keep them in the competition. The stakes are high because, after this test, two of them will go home.

The four remaining cooks face one more challenge to obtain a place in the quarter-final. Replicating the conditions of service, they have to cook an impressive menu for some very special guests. For the tenth anniversary of MasterChef, some of the competition's most inspiring winners and finalists are returning to judge the food of these new pretenders to the throne.

In this episode the first MasterChef champion, Thomasina Miers, joins 2008 winner James Nathan and 2010 finalist Alex Rushmer as they give their verdict. There is also the chance to find out what triumphs and challenges they have faced since their own MasterChef journeys.

After the four contestants have cooked, John and Gregg will decide which two will take the next step in the competition and go through to the first quarter-final.

In a competition where only the food matters, these amateurs will need to be good to survive - taking their first step towards being crowned MasterChef champion 2014.