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The first group of eight head into battle and are immediately hit with an Invention Test. The larder has been stocked with some of the finest foods, so the only limitation will be the contestants’ imaginations. The hopefuls need to step up when it matters and serve up John and Gregg a dish worthy of Knockout Week, as at the end, three of them will be emptying their lockers and heading for the exit.

The five lucky cooks who make it through will be rewarded with a shift in their first professional kitchen. There is no better place to start than in fine-dining bistro Nessa in London’s glittering West End, where Michelin-trained executive chef Tom Cenci delivers a stunning menu packed with both originality and twists on the classics. This is a real chance for our amateurs to roll their sleeves up, sample life in the industry and deliver some top-notch cooking.

No more amateurs will leave the competition, but John and Gregg will be in the dining room scrutinising every plate that leaves the pass. With the MasterChef trophy in sight, nobody will want to leave a bad impression.