'MasterChef: The Professionals' is to return for its 12th series this autumn.

Gregg Wallace

Gregg Wallace

Gregg Wallace, and chefs Marcus Wareing, and Monica Galetti will return to judge the cooking competition, which will see 48 eager chefs battle it out over seven intense weeks in a bid to achieve the ultimate gastronomic glory and be named champion cook.

Monica said: "This series is going to be fierce. The chefs are going to have to pull out all the stops and keep us on our toes.

"I cannot wait to discover who is going to emerge on top."

Marcus added: "I want bold, I want brilliant and I want beautifully-cooked food. That's what will get my attention and really help a chef stand out."

Over an initial four weeks, 12 chefs compete in the first two programmes each week in a bid to make the quarter final in the third episode.

The six chefs in each heat will start off by trying to tackle the skills test, and they are later tasked with producing a signature dish within an hour and 15 minutes.

If they progress, further huge challenges await the wannabe 'MasterChef: The Professionals' champions, including the invention test.

Marcus and Monica will choose an ingredient with which the professionals must base their dish, which can range from onion to pumpkin.

In the latter stages, the chefs must cook up a storm for a number of UK food critics, who will include William Sitwell, Grace Dent, Jimi Famurewa, Tom Parker Bowles, Tracey MacLeod, Amol Rajan and Jay Rayner.

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