Gregg Wallace and chefs Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti preside over the UK's most revered cooking competition.

Over six weeks, 32 professional chefs will strive to demonstrate their outstanding skills, commitment and creativity to convince the judges they are worthy of the highly-esteemed title of MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2020.

In tonight's first heat, four professional chefs from around the country arrive at the MasterChef kitchen ready to put their reputations on the line and their skills to the test. Two chefs' pasta-making skills are challenged by Monica when she tasks them to prepare mushroom tortellini filled with a mushroom duxelles and served with a chosen sauce. The other two chefs take on Marcus's recipe for devilled butterflied mackerel with a herb-flavoured mayo and a cucumber and fennel salad. They only have 20 minutes to demonstrate their fish-filleting skills and their mayonnaise-making precision.

Finally, all four chefs have the chance to redeem any earlier mistakes when they cook their own signature dish for the judges. This is each chef's last chance to cement their place in the competition, before the judges choose which two chefs will be sent home and which two are through to the first quarter-final.

This year's first quarter-final sees the four strongest chefs from the first two heats return, ready to up the ante and impress Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing in two tough challenges.

First is an Invention Test, with Marcus and Monica asking the chefs to create a dish based on the set theme of spices. They will be presented with a market containing a variety of ingredients to choose from, including an eclectic range of spices. The chefs must now be resourceful, working to the best of their ability and demonstrate the know-how to incorporate and highlight spice throughout their dish.

Next, the four professionals face the challenge of cooking for two of the UK's most discerning restaurant critics, Jimi Famurewa and William Sitwell. They have one hour and 15 minutes to wow the judges with a two-course menu that's memorable for all the right reasons.

Only the three most talented chefs will go through to the semi-finals and continue their attempt to win the MasterChef: The Professionals title.