大象传媒

The Bafta-winning hit is back for its eleventh series. Celebrated MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, chef Monica Galetti and two-Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing are together searching for the UK's finest cooking talent. Over seven weeks, 48 professionals will face the rigours of the MasterChef kitchen before one chef is crowned culinary superstar of 2018.

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 infamous Skills Test. Under the watchful eye of all three judges, the first moments for any competitor are nerve-wracking, as their knowledge, palate and experience are weighed up in this infamous first assessment.

This first Skills Test of 2018 has been set by Monica - the chefs will have to cook tempura squid with a roasted garlic and saffron mayonnaise. They only have 15 minutes to show how to faultlessly clean and prep a squid before perfectly cooking it tempura-style, whilst also having to whip up an impeccable mayonnaise. Monica's dish is delicate and delicious, but will the contestants hang onto their credibility and serve up a truly edible dish without falling apart?

The remaining three chefs face Marcus' test. They must hold their nerve and show creativity and great culinary flair when he challenges them to cook a cauliflower steak with two cauliflower garnishes and a nut butter. Faced with turning a common vegetable into a first-class dish even the most experienced chef runs the risk of going blank in front of the judges.

Next, the six chefs have a chance to redeem any earlier mistakes when they cook their own Signature Dish for Monica, Marcus and Gregg. In an hour and 15 minutes, they must showcase their creativity, palate and personal style. It is also their final chance to show off their culinary talent before the judges decide which three are sent home, and which three go through to this week's quarter-final.