MasterChef: The Professionals Catch up, Series 19: Episode 5 on BBC 2

MasterChef: The Professionals

Series 19: Episode 5

Marcus and Monica are joined by special guest Alex Claridge, the chef behind The Wilderness in Birmingham, whose eclectic, unconventional style combines bold flavours, unexpected ingredients and inventive techniques. Now, he’s setting the chefs the challenge of recreating a dish that demands extraordinary precision: a sashimi of Cornish gurnard, lightly cured and accompanied by delicate pear, finished with a tare, smoked sesame emulsion and a jelly veil of oxtail consomme.\n\nThis is a dish where subtlety is everything. For some of the chefs, the ingredients and techniques are entirely unfamiliar, and with no recipe to follow, they’ll need to draw on their experience, trust their seasoned palates and remain composed under pressure. With a place in the quarter-final at stake, can they rise to Alex’s exacting challenge, or will this intricate test prove a step too far?\n\nThe final test is a sweet one, and the chefs must turn their attention to dessert, where precision and timing are crucial, and there is little room for error. Marcus and Monica are looking for more than perfectly executed patisserie. They want to see flair, imagination and a clear sense of each chef’s style, all brought together in a dessert worthy of the MasterChef kitchen. It’s a chance to finish on a high, but one mistake could undo all their hard work.\n\nAs the final plates reach the pass, who will wow the judges, and whose MasterChef journey will end here?

Source: BBC 2

Most recent episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals

Masterchef: The Professionals

Series 19: Episode 6

It’s quarter-final time again as the standout chefs from this week’s heats come together for another battle in the kitchen. The stakes are higher, the challenges mor ...

12-11-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Masterchef: The Professionals

Series 19: Episode 3

It’s the first quarter-final, and the four chefs who have fought their way through the heats return to the kitchen with everything to play for. Their next challenge is to ...

12-11-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Series 18: Episode 18

The semi-finals draw to a close, with just five remaining chefs ready to face two challenges. The contenders dig deep into their culinary repertoire as they cook for one of the ...

19-03-2026

BBC 2

All episodes