MasterChef: The Professionals 2017 BBC2

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The Bafta-winning hit is back for its tenth series. Celebrated MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, chef Monica Galetti and two-Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing are together once again in their search 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 2017.

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 put under scrutiny. Nothing goes unnoticed as they chop, slice and sear their way through their first assessment.

This year the judges have raised the bar even higher - setting the chefs the task of creating and cooking a dish from scratch in just 20 minutes. The first test has been designed by Marcus, who demonstrates how he would make a superb duck dish from a whole duck and a table of ingredients in 20 minutes flat. As well as creating the dish, the chefs have their butchery and sauce-making skills put to the test as all three judges watch over them. Can these chefs hold their nerve and deliver a perfectly prepared duck dish of their own creation alongside a great quality sauce, or will they buckle under the pressure?

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.

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The first challenge they face is the skills test, set by Monica. The chefs have 20 minutes to prepare a dish using cod cheeks and an accompanying sauce or garnish. They must remove the cod flesh from the head simply and cleanly with no waste, cook it to perfection and create a beautifully balanced accompaniment. Whilst Monica, Marcus and Gregg look on, will the chefs fade under the pressure of this test, or manage to impress with a beautifully prepared, seasoned and cooked fish dish?