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Episode 2

The search for the country's 2018 culinary superstar continues. The chefs prepare a hanger steak with chimichurri, as well as cook gurnard with a pepper and tomato sauce.

The Bafta-winning hit is back for its eleventh series. Celebrated MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, chef Monica Galetti and two-Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing are together searching for the UK's finest cooking talent. Over seven weeks, 48 professionals will face the rigours of the MasterChef kitchen before one chef is crowned culinary superstar of 2018.

In this heat, six professional chefs from all over the country arrive at the MasterChef kitchen and put their reputations on the line, to stake their claim to the coveted title. The chefs face two daunting challenges - at the end of which, three chefs are sent home and the strongest three go through to this week's quarter-final.

Each chef begins with the infamous Skills Test. Under the watchful eye of all three judges, the first moments for any competitor are nerve-wracking, as their knowledge, palate and experience are weighed up in this infamous first assessment.

The first three chefs face the terrifying prospect of tackling a Skills Test set by Marcus. In just 15 minutes they must showcase their knife skills and butchery knowledge by preparing and cooking a hanger steak with chimichurri sauce. If they are not familiar with the cut of meat or the cuisine they will be reliant on their culinary skill and intuition to cook the steak to perfection and create a punchy piquant sauce.

The next three chefs face a 15-minute cooking test created by Monica. All of them will be hoping the gurnard is a straightforward fish to fillet, which they will then have to cook and serve to make a first-class dish of gurnard with a Mediterranean pepper and tomato Sauce. No mean feat when their hands are shaking, and the judges are scrutinising their every move.

Next, the six chefs have a chance to redeem any earlier mistakes when they cook their own Signature Dish for Monica, Marcus and Gregg. In an hour and 15 minutes, they must showcase their creativity, palate and personal style. It is also their final chance to show off their culinary talent before the judges decide which three are sent home, and which three go through to this week's quarter-final.

59 minutes

Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:50

    Tina Arena

    Tu Pourras Dire (Album Version)

  • 00:57

    Embrace

    Never

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Gregg Wallace
Judge Marcus Wareing
Judge Monica Galetti
Narrator Sean Pertwee
Executive Producer David Ambler
Series Producer Genevieve Welch
Director Anthony Crumpton
Editor John Waters
Unit Manager Clare Elliot
Production Manager Laura Edwards
Production Company Shine TV

Broadcasts