Episode 1

MasterChef: The Professionals returns to BBC One for the 17th series of the UK's most revered cooking competition. Thirty-two of the country's most ambitious chefs are invited to battle it out in the MasterChef kitchen, in a bid to become the 2024 champion.

Judging throughout the journey are culinary legend Marcus Wareing, renowned chef Monica Galetti and celebrated MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace, all hoping to unearth the next culinary superstar.

Over seven weeks, the 32 professional chefs will have their skills, creativity and culinary knowledge put to the test in a series of demanding challenges as the judges hunt out the most impressive talent in the industry. Only the strongest contenders will be in with a shot of winning the coveted MasterChef: The Professionals trophy.

Tonight, it's heat one, which will see the first four brave chefs enter the MasterChef kitchen. Their mission is to impress across two daunting tasks, in the hope of securing a place in this week's quarter-final.

First stop is the infamous skills test. The chefs have ingredients laid out for them, with just 20 minutes to show off their talents. Nobody will want to leave a bad first impression. The first two chefs take on the challenge set by Monica: to make a carrot schnitzel and serve it with a white bean hummus and Middle Eastern herb sauce, zhoug. This is plant-based cookery at its best, and will require the chefs' intuition and a little bit of flair.

It's a sweet dish for the two remaining chefs as they tackle a dessert brief given to them by Marcus. Their job is to a rustle up choux pastry beignets and serve them with lavender sugar and a whipped orange cream. Precise pastry work will be the order of the day as the chefs try to delight the judges with light, fluffy sugary clouds.

The heat will end with all four chefs cooking their own two-course signature menu. Can they pull off an exceptional main and dessert in just one hour and 30 minutes?

The best chefs on the day will head into the quarter-final as the race for the title of MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2024 gets off to a flying start.