Last night MasterChef: The Professionals returned to our screens with the first four contestants taking on the skills test and the signature challenge. 

The skills test, set by judges Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti, involved two contestants cooking the British classic bangers and mash alongside a beer and onion gravy.

Another two had to prepare monkfish with a pea and bacon ragout.

The first episode saw two chefs eliminated and two make it through to the quarter-finals. 

Here are the contestants taking part this year and where they work 

Daniel Marreiros

Daniel is the head chef at Volta Do Mar, 13-15 Tavistock Street Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PS, which features in the Michelin Guide serving Brazilian, African and Portuguese food.  

Instagram: @danieldmarreiros

Ryan Michael Baker

Ryan is the sous chef at Maison Francois, 34 Duke Street St James's, London SW1Y 6DF England, which has classic French cuisine on the menu and is also in the Michelin Guide. 

Instagram: @ryan_baker94

Jamie Holme

Jamie is the head Chef at catering company Bubble Food, based in London. 

The website describes it as "the couture of event food design, creating visionary spectacles that engage and excite guests and delight clients".

Instagram: @chefjholme

John Simpson-Clements

It's not clear where John currently works but his Instagram page shows he is still cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

He used to work as a sous chef at the Burleigh Court Hote in Loughborough.

Instagram: @chef_johnsclements

Liam Rogers

Liam is the sous chef at two-time Michelin starred Restaurant Sat Bains, Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2SA, which serves a seven-course set menu for lunch and 10-courses dinner menus.

Instagram: @chef_liam_rogersss

Enrique Garcia de Olalla

Enrique is the sous chef at Frog By Adam Handling, 34-38 Southampton Street Covent Garden, London WC2E 7HG. The menu changes regularly and has earned the award of TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice 2021. 

Instagram: @enrique.garciadeolalla

The Northern Echo: Frog by Adam Handling serves high quality food in London (TripAdvisor) Frog by Adam Handling serves high quality food in London (TripAdvisor)

Anthony Billion

Anthony is a chef at The Goring, 15 Beeston Place, London SW1W 0JW, which has a 5/5 rating on TripAdvisor. 

The restaurant and hotel is close to the fashionable Belgravia serving British food and cocktails. 

Instagram: @t0t08150

Ollie

Ollie is a chef  at Le Jardin de Berne, Route de Salernes, 83780 Flayosc, France.

Château de Berne is a 1,500-acre private estate promoting relaxation and wellbeing around two main themes: Provence and Wine.

Instagram: @ollieae_97

Aaron Middleton

Aaron is an ex-head chef at Richard Branson's Necker Island, and now owns his own private company. 

Instagram: @chefaaronmiddleton

Yasmine Celiene

Yasmine is a private performance chef with her own company based in Wednesbury, West Midlands. 

Instagram: @chef_yasmineceliene

Matt Willdigg

Matt owns his own foraging catering company called Foray Catering, offering private dining experiences as well as catering for weddings and events. 

Instagram: @chef_mattwilldigg

Nico Fitzgerald

Originally from Gibraltar, now Nico is the head chef at the London Stock, Wandsworth.

Instagram: @nicofitzgerald

Dan Lee

Dan is a 28-year-old private chef from Birmingham who used to work at Michelin-starred celebrity restaurant Table65 in Singapore.

Instagram: @daniel.jb.lee 

Dario Carvalho

Dario, 27, is a sous chef at skyscraper restaurant and cocktail bar 20 Stories in Manchester.

Instagram: @chefdarios

Lauren Loudon

29-year-old Lauren is an ex-yacht chef who now owns her own cafe in Surrey, The Deli, and uses her travels to inspire her food. 

Instagram: @sailingfooddiaries

The next episode will see another four contestants take part in the skills test and signature challenge in the hope of impressing the judges and making it through to the next round. 

MasterChef: The Professionals is next on BBC Two on Thursday November 1 at 9pm.