Episode 13

Knockout week has arrived. It will see the best 13 chefs who have cooked their way through the heats and quarter-finals come together to do battle once more. Some will only be faced with one task tonight, because if they manage to stand out from the pack, they will sail straight through to the semi-finals. Those lagging will have one more chance to prove they deserve to stay. The pressure will be off the scale, but the experience to come is seriously worth it.

The first challenge will have the chefs’ brains whirring, as to win over Marcus, Monica and Matt, they will face a good old-fashioned invention test. They will have the run of the larder, which has been stocked up with a vast array of seafood, meats, vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices. Too much choice can be overwhelming, but these chefs all have one thing in common: they deliver under pressure. Will they manage to do the same when there is so much at stake?

After tasting the first round’s creations, the judges will select the strongest eight, and those picked will find cause to celebrate, as their place in the next round is guaranteed. The five remaining will cook again. More stores of creativity will be required, as they will need to cook a dish using whatever leftovers remain in stock. In an extra twist, if they made a savoury dish last time, they will now need to do a dessert, and vice versa. They might have thought they played to their strengths last round, but they will need to shine in all sections of the kitchen.

At the end, the judges must take a huge decision which will see three chefs heading home. Only ten chefs will survive to the next challenges, and for them, some of the greatest experiences of the competition are just on the horizon.