The remaining 12 contestants are split into two groups and get their first taste of professional cooking when they have to run an entire lunchtime service on their own. In this episode the first group head to Ormer Mayfair, a London restaurant headed up by award-winning chef Shaun Rankin. During a busy service, the six amateurs are responsible for serving up every dish on the menu to paying customers. It is then back to MasterChef HQ for an invention test to show John and Gregg what they have learnt. Each contestant has to show they can invent an exceptional dish that is worthy of gracing the table of a professional restaurant. As well as presenting their food to John and Gregg, the contestants must also impress a guest judge, renowned Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin. After this, one of the cooks is sent home.

The ten remaining amateur cooks only face one challenge in this episode. They must cook one dish to completely wow the judges and secure their semi-final place. They have one and a half hours to create their masterpiece, and nine of them will make it through.