Catch up TV

Series 12: Episode 19

It is finals week and the competition is at fever pitch. After six weeks of intense culinary battles, only the four most talented chefs out of the original 48 remain. With the title in sight, tension rises and the chefs need to pull out all the stops to convince veteran judge Gregg Wallace, revered chef Monica Galetti and Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing that they have the requisite star quality. Only one can be crowned MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2019.\n\nOver the next three nights, the finalists face the close scrutiny of some of Britain's greatest chefs and immerse themselves in a world-class kitchen, when they have the unique opportunity to work with a chef who is re-defining the bar for gastronomy in Portugal.\n\nThe first challenge the four chefs face in the finals is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to cook at one of the most prestigious events in the UK culinary calendar – the chef's table. It is the only time in the year when so many of the country's top culinary talents gather together to dine. These chefs are the leaders and architects of UK gastronomy and cooking for these luminaries provides a potentially career-changing moment for the finalists. This year, the VIP guests boast an incredible 26 Michelin stars between them and include three Michelin-starred Matt Abe, two starred Sat Bains, Jun Tanaka, Nigel Haworth, James 'Jocky' Petrie, Nieves Barragan, Atul Kochhar and James Knappett.\n\nEach chef takes charge of one of four courses. Over five intense hours, they are watched by Marcus and Monica as they cook the most important menu of their lives, preparing every last element of their ambitious creations to perfection. The stakes are sky high during this career-defining service, as they strive to be noticed by their culinary idols. Nothing else matters for the chefs as they inch closer to the title of MasterChef: The Professionals 2019.

Source: BBC 2