MasterChef: The Professionals 2017 BBC2

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In this episode, the remaining eight chefs face a double-headed beast of a challenge in the MasterChef kitchen. At stake is the chance to move forward in the competition and the opportunity to cook in some of the most influential and unique kitchens in the UK. The first challenge the eight chefs face is cooking against each other to create a dish dedicated to someone who has inspired them in life. Whether that's a professional from their career, a family member or a loved one, the challenge is to create a dish that in turn inspires the judges to send them straight through to the next round.

In just one hour and 45 minutes, they have to deliver a perfect plate of food that showcases their personality and style, and sets them apart from the other chefs. After tasting their dishes, the judges will decide which professionals have proved themselves strong enough to go directly through to the next round.

The remaining chefs must return to fight again in the MasterChef kitchen to secure one of the remaining four places in the next round. They face an invention test, where they are tasked with creating their own unique dish which celebrates the fresh and light ingredients on offer - and this time, there's no meat or fish for them to choose from. With this plate of food, the judges' expectations are high, so it's imperative that the chefs' ingenuity and skill shine through or they will forfeit their place in the next semi-final challenge.

After this hard-fought battle, two chefs are asked to leave the competition. The six who remain continue on their path in pursuit of the MasterChef: The Professionals title 2017.

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It is finals week and the competition is racing to the finish line. After six weeks of intense culinary battles, just four talented chefs remain from the original 48. As the tension rises, the chefs need to pull out all the stops for presenter Gregg Wallace and leading chefs Monica Galetti and Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing. Only one chef can be crowned MasterChef: The Professionals Champion of 2017.

Over three nights, the chefs face the close scrutiny of some of the world's greatest chefs and face the challenge and unique opportunity of working in some of the most groundbreaking restaurants around. The first challenge the four chefs face is the once-in-a-lifetime chance to cook at one of the most prestigious events in the UK culinary calendar - The Chef's Table. It allows the finalists to showcase their food to their professional heroes as 23 culinary giants descend on London for this unique annual event. It is the only time so many of the UK's top culinary talents gather together to dine and provides a potentially career-changing moment for the finalists. This year, the VIP chef guests have 22 Michelin stars between them and include three Michelin-starred Matt Abe, Atul Kochhar, Nigel Haworth, Andrew Fairlie and Gary Jones, as well as rising stars Tommy Banks, James Lowe, Selin Kiazim and Elizabeth Haigh.

Each chef takes charge of one of four courses, which are served to all 23 of their culinary idols. Over five intense hours, they are watched over by Marcus and Monica as they cook for their lives, preparing every last element of their ambitious creations to perfection to please their important guests. The stakes are incredibly high as the opportunity to be noticed by the leaders of the UK culinary industry doesn't come along every day. It is a career-defining experience for the chefs as they inch closer to the title of Professional MasterChef 2017.