UK MasterChef News - MasterChef: The Professionals Returns

MasterChef: The Professionals returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn for its 16th series, as 32 ambitious chefs from across the country battle to become the 2023 Champion. Presiding over the UK’s most revered cooking competition will be Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing, celebrated MasterChef judge, Gregg Wallace and returning renowned chef, Monica Galetti. The expert team are eager to discover outstanding new cooking talent and will be setting exacting standards from the moment the kitchen doors open. As only the most skilled, passionate and creative of chefs can come close to the prestigious MasterChef: The Professionals title.

MASTERCHEF: THE PROFESSIONALS HEATS

Over seven intense weeks and 21 episodes, the chefs, drawn from kitchens all over the UK, are put through their paces - first competing in the Heats to try and make it to that week’s Quarter Final.

The chefs must then pull out all the stops to win over the UK’s most exacting food critics, who, this year, include: Grace Dent, Jay Rayner, Jimi Famurewa, Leyla Kazim, Tom Parker Bowles, Tracey MacLeod, and William Sitwell.

For the 12 best chefs, who have proven they can take their cooking at the next level, Knockout Week is back. Making it through to Semi Finals week, the remaining eight contenders must face a themed trial in the MasterChef kitchen.

FINAL FOUR TO MASTERCHEF CHAMPION

The Final Four then face their ultimate culinary challenge with Chef’s Table, held at London’s Midland Grand Dining Room. They are given the unique and daunting opportunity to cook for some of the country’s finest chefs with 25 Michelin stars between them, including: Matt Abé; Michael Caines; Jean-Philippe Blondet; Jason Atherton; Daniel Clifford and Anna Haugh.

At the end of seven gruelling weeks, battling their way towards to the MasterChef trophy, The Final Three have one last opportunity to impress the judges with everything they have learnt throughout the competition. They must produce the best three-course menu of their lives for the judges, who expect the very highest standards of skill, presentation and creativity, before they make the ultimate decision to award the title to the MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 Champion.

Images: BBC/Shine TV

Watch MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC and on catchup on the BBC iPlayer