MasterChef: The Professionals 2017 BBC2

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In the second heat of the week, six of the UK's chefs make the journey to the MasterChef kitchen ready to fight for the coveted title. First up is the terrifying skills test. Marcus sets the six chefs the task of preparing and cooking a fresh pasta dish with tiger prawns. Any chef should have the skills and know-how to achieve a great pasta dish but in the heat of the competition will their pasta dishes match expectations?

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This time round Marcus sets the test, giving the chefs 20 minutes to make a fruit-based dessert featuring Italian meringue and demonstrating his own version. The judges then watch over the chefs' every move as they set about choosing and cooking an accompanying fruit to go with their meringue. Whilst it sounds straightforward enough, will these chefs know the important difference between a French and an Italian meringue? And can they hit the right temperature for a perfect sugar syrup whilst creating a beautiful fruit sauce? This is a true test of their culinary knowledge and skills.

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In this heat, Monica sets a challenging skills test in which another six chefs from across the UK have just 20 minutes to prepare and cook a pigeon crown. They must also create an accompanying sauce from the beautiful array of ingredients provided.

Following Monica's own demonstration, the heat is on for the chefs to prove they have what it takes to make a perfectly balanced sauce in harmony with the pigeon breast. For 20 minutes of high-pressure cooking, the chefs must hold their nerve and prove they are accomplished professionals who know their way around filleting and cooking poultry. But under the watchful eyes of Monica, Marcus and Gregg, even the most seasoned chef can falter.

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The chefs' first task is to undertake Marcus's skills test in front of the vigilant judges Monica, Marcus and Gregg. The chefs have 20 minutes to prove that they have the skill and technique to cook rose veal sweetbread.

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It is knockout week on MasterChef: The Professionals. MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace teams up with two of Britain's leading chefs - Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti. The judges are at the sharp edge of the hunt for the country's next culinary superstar. After four weeks of intense competition, 12 most talented chefs remain from the initial 48. Tonight is the first time they all come together in the MasterChef kitchen, where their fate rests in an almighty cook-off.

The first challenge for the 12 chefs is to cook against each other in a terrifying invention test. They need to impress the three judges with one spectacular plate of food created from a heaving table of fresh sweet and savoury ingredients. But Monica and Marcus have raised the bar a little higher and challenge the chefs to the maximum by removing all the modern kitchen gadgets from the kitchen. In the absence of sous vide, or water bath, the emphasis is on classic cooking skills - plain and simple. With two hours and 15 minutes to create an innovative plate of excellence, they must seize this opportunity to make an impact on the judges. Only eight chefs will be guaranteed to move to the next round. The weakest four must cook again against each other.

In the cook-off round, the four remaining chefs have their final chance to showcase their talents to Marcus, Monica and Gregg, and save themselves from being sent home. With one hour to create one perfect dish, it is do or die. Can they sear, blowtorch and pickle their way into the judges' good books and convince them they deserve to continue in the competition? For two chefs, it is the end of the road when they are sent home. The best two chefs from this round join the other eight and continue their quest to raise the MasterChef: The Professionals 2017 trophy.