MasterChef: The Professionals

BBC1, 9pm

As we start series 15 of this culinary institution, there’s one change to the set menu. Out goes Monica Galetti as judge, and in comes Irish chef Anna Haugh (far right), already familiar to viewers on BBC1’s Morning Live and earlier this year as a guest on Celebrity MasterChef.

She joins the returning Marcus Wareing and Gregg Wallace (both right) as 32 professionals start the competition that will see a winner chosen after18 episodes.

For the opening heat, four hopefuls are put through their paces, starting with two tricky skills tests, one involving poached oysters, the other making an intricate fruit tart. Then it’s on to the challenge of a two-course signature menu.

Continues at the same time on Thursday, when four new chefs are tested out, before the five selected over the first two episodes face the quarter-final on Friday. ★★★★★