Hosts Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre and Anthony Bourdain sample the cooking of 25 hopefuls. Each of them must deliver just one spoonful of food that will showcase their talent and earn them a spot on the show.

Nigella, Ludo and Anthony see their hand-picked contestants in action for the first time. Guest chef Richard Corrigan sets and judges a `classic' challenge, where the mentors must coach their cooks to create the best prawn cocktail.

Only 11 cooks remain, and this time the challenge is all about comfort food. Dishes range from ginger and black pepper rice pudding, to posh cheese on toast. The contestants must make a pie fit for Michelin-starred guest chef Michael Caines.

Things get hot this time as the cooks prepare some spiced sweet dishes for guest chef Yotam Ottolenghi, then serve up the spiciest spoonfuls they can muster to Nigella, Anthony and Ludo - with some eye-watering results.

The cooks keep it in the family as they take recipes passed down through the generations and turn them into food fit for Anthony, Ludo and Nigella. Emotions run high as the contestants try to do their mums, dads, grandparents and godparents proud.

Here, the cooks are challenged to produce sensational sweet and savoury spoonfuls that must contain chocolate. Acclaimed sweet chef Eric Lanlard is on hand, as they create dishes ranging from chocolate cupcakes to chocolate and Stilton tarts.