Tortellini terrors

BBC1, 9pm WATCHING a professional chef at work is just something else. Mushroom duxelles tortellini? In 25 minutes? No problem.

Skilfully fillet a fish? Whip up a mayonnaise in minutes? No sweat.

These pros can chop an onion at the speed of light and the words foam and fondant don’t terrify them.

But even the cream of the crop can get the jitters in front of steely eyed Monica Galetti and Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing, who gives off General Zod supervillain vibes.

Gregg Wallace, meanwhile, tries to lighten the mood as the tension rises and chefs begin to panic.

Over six weeks, 32 pro-chefs will tr y to win the revered title of Mast erch ef: Th e P rofessional s Champion 2020. Tonight’s heat sees the first four put through their paces with two daunting challenges, after which only a pair of them will make it through to this week’s quarter-final.

Two face Monica’s skills test – a tortellini, filled with mushroom duxelles and ser ved with a sauce of their choice.

The re ma i n i n g c o u p l e a re challenged with Marcus’s test – a devilled, butterflied mackerel with herb f l av o u re d may o , a n d a cucumber and fennel salad. There are shaky hands as fish bones are removed, pasta dough is stretched and mushrooms are sliced as the time ticks away.

Finally, all four chefs have the chance to redeem any mistakes when they cook their own signature main and dessert courses for the judges.

This is their chance to shine, but only two will make it through.

The show continues tomorrow and Thursday.

Gregg and Monica THE HEAT IS ON Judges Marcus,