Chris Badenoch

The 24 contestants enter the MasterChef kitchen and are greeted by legendary chef Gordon Ramsay; when they get over the shock he tells them will be here for the entire week to mentor them through the first stage of the competition.

The contestants are split into three teams and must compete in a three-round cook-off; after the third round, the bottom six contestants are revealed and must compete in the next pressure test.

The contestants find out that the mystery box, covered in a Union Jack flag, has been prepared by Gordon Ramsay.

The five contestants with the most impressive dishes from the previous challenge must compete in an immunity challenge; Andy and Jock teach a MasterClass.

Helly Raichura of Enter Via Laundry bases her taste test on her popular dish pasta-not-pasta; contestants who guess the least ingredients correctly must attempt to replicate the dish in a challenge.

The contestants create dishes with an emphasis on textures; the contestants must make a dish with the best crunch in round one; the contestants must make a dish with a gooey texture in round two.