MasterChef: The Professionals facts for kids

MasterChef: The Professionals is a popular cooking competition TV show from the BBC. It's a special version of the main MasterChef series, but this one is just for professional chefs. They compete to show off their amazing cooking skills!

The show first started in 2008. The main judge, Gregg Wallace, has been there since the beginning. For many years, the show was narrated by India Fisher, and then by Sean Pertwee. Famous chefs like Michel Roux Jr., Monica Galetti, Marcus Wareing, and Anna Haugh have also been judges, helping to decide who has the best cooking talent.

How the Competition Works

The show usually runs for about seven weeks, with new episodes airing from early November until Christmas. Many chefs start the competition, but only one can become the MasterChef: The Professionals champion! The challenges change a bit each year, but here's a general idea of how it works.

Heat Rounds: Starting Strong

Each week, six new chefs begin their journey. They face tough challenges to prove they deserve to stay.

Skills Test: Show What You Know

In this challenge, the judges show how to make a specific dish or prepare an ingredient. The chefs then have a short time (usually 15-20 minutes) to copy it perfectly. The judges taste their attempts and give feedback.

Signature Dish: Your Best Creation

After the skills test, chefs get one hour to cook their own special "signature dish." This is their chance to show off their unique style and skills. Based on both challenges, three chefs are eliminated, and three move on to the next stage.

Quarter Finals: Cooking for Critics

The three chefs who made it through the heat round face even harder tests.

Invention Test: Get Creative

Chefs are given a pantry full of ingredients and have one hour to invent a brand new dish. They must be creative and use the ingredients wisely.

Cook for the Critics: Tough Judges

The remaining chefs must prepare a three-course meal for a panel of well-known food critics, like Jay Rayner. The professional judges also taste the food. The chefs don't get direct feedback from the critics, but their performance in this challenge helps decide who gets eliminated. Only the best chefs move on to the knockout week.

Knockout Week: High Stakes Cooking

Around 8 to 10 chefs are left at this point. The challenges here are designed to push them to their limits.

Knowledge Test: Classic Dishes

Chefs might have to recreate a classic dish demonstrated by a judge, but with only a basic recipe. They need to use their knowledge of cooking methods and flavors.

Cooking for a Guest Chef: Impress the Experts

Sometimes, a famous mystery chef visits the kitchen. The contestants have to cook a dish to impress this special guest.

Mass Catering: Cooking for Many

Chefs are split into teams and have to cook large amounts of high-quality food for many people, often at a workplace or a big event. This tests their ability to cook under pressure for a crowd.

Semi-Finals: Getting Closer to the Top

Only a few chefs remain now, and the challenges become even more intense.

Service in a Top Restaurant: Real-World Pressure

The chefs get to work in a famous British restaurant during a busy lunch service. They learn from the Head Chef and try to cook the restaurant's signature dishes. Their performance here, along with a cook-off back in the MasterChef kitchen, decides who stays.

Chef's Table: Cooking for the Best

The remaining chefs work together to cook a fancy banquet for a group of top British chefs, many of whom have Michelin stars. Each chef is responsible for a different course (starter, main, dessert).

Finals Week: The Ultimate Challenge

This is it! The final chefs compete to become the champion.

Showstopping Dish: Your Masterpiece

Chefs must create an incredible dish that truly shows off all their skills and knowledge. One chef is eliminated, leaving the final three.

Three-Starred Restaurant: International Experience

The finalists often travel to a world-famous restaurant, sometimes even abroad, that has three Michelin stars. They learn special techniques and cook alongside the restaurant's top chefs.

Final Cook-Off: Who Will Win?

Back in the MasterChef kitchen, the three finalists have two hours to cook a three-course meal for the judges. This is their last chance to prove they are the best and be crowned the MasterChef: The Professionals Champion!

Past Champions

Many talented chefs have won MasterChef: The Professionals over the years. Here are some of the champions:

Show History and Milestones

The show has had many exciting moments and changes since it began.

Early Series (2008-2013)

• Series 1 (2008): Derek Johnstone won the first series. He later worked with judge Michel Roux Jr.
• Series 2 (2009): Won by Steve Groves. This series even won a BAFTA award!
• Series 3 (2010): Claire Lara became the winner.
• Series 4 (2011): Ash Mair won this series. This was also the first series where Sean Pertwee took over as the voiceover.
• Series 5 (2012): For the first time ever, two chefs, Anton Piotrowski and Keri Moss, were crowned joint winners!
• Series 6 (2013): Steven Edwards won this series.

Later Series and Changes (2014-Present)

• Series 7 (2014): Marcus Wareing joined as a new judge, replacing Michel Roux Jr. Jamie Scott was the winner.
• Series 13 (2020): This series moved from BBC Two to BBC One. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some challenges that usually took place outside the MasterChef kitchen were changed to keep everyone safe. Alex Webb won this series.
• Series 14 (2021): Daniel Lee was crowned the champion.

International Versions

MasterChef: The Professionals is so popular that other countries have made their own versions!

Country	Name	Host(s)	Judges	Network	Air dates
Australia	MasterChef Australia: The Professionals	Matt Preston Marco Pierre White	Matt Preston Marco Pierre White Guest judge	Network Ten	20 January 2013 – 17 March 2013 (Season 1)
Brazil	MasterChef Profissionais	Ana Paula Padrão	Erick Jacquin Paola Carosella Henrique Fogaça	Band	4 October 2016 – 13 December 2016 (Season 1) 5 September 2017 – 5 December 2017 (Season 2) 21 August 2018 – 11 December 2018 (Season 3)
Paraguay	MasterChef Profesionales	Paola Maltese	Nicolás Bo Eugenia Aquino José Torrijos	Telefuturo	9 September 2019 – 23 December 2019 (Season 1)
Ukraine	MasterChef. Profesionaly МастерШеф. Професіонали	Hector Jimenez-Bravo Yelyzaveta Hlinska Volodymyr Yaroslavskiy		STB	2 March – 1 June 2019 (Season 1) 29 February – 18 July 2020 (Season 2)