Series 10 of MasterChef 2014 UK got on the way tonight with the first six cooks all hoping to be one of the chosen few to make it to the quarterfinals.

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The contestants cooking in the MasterChef kitchen for survival on the first episode (Wednesday) where judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace will put their cooking talent to the test are:

Sumera, 30, Training Manager
Robert, 53, Lindy Hop Teacher
Holly, 22, Ofice Manager
James, 38, Charity Fundraising Consultant
Kristyn, 30, Research & Development Scientist
Rob, 24, Management Consultant.

For their first task, the contestants are asked to cook their calling card, a practiced dish that represents who they are as a cook and showcases their talent. They are given just one hour to dazzle the judges with one plate of food that shows just what they can do.

They then faced the infamous invention test, for the first time choosing between two sealed boxes of ingredients – one sweet and one savoury. Chef John Torode also takes on this challenge himself, showing the viewers at home just what is possible with the few ingredients. The sweet ingredients include figs, mascarpone, pine nuts, puff pastry and stem ginger in syrup, while the savoury box contains lamb mince, spring onions, beef tomatoes, carrots and aubergines.

The amateur cooks have just one hour to prepare a dish good enough to keep them in the competition. After the judges have sampled their dishes, the two cooks that impressed the least will be sent home.

The four remaining cooks faced one more challenge to obtain a place in the quarter-final. They have to cook an impressive menu for some very special guests. For the tenth anniversary of MasterChef, some of the competition’s most inspiring winners and finalists returned to judge the food of these new pretenders to the throne.

Tonight the first MasterChef champion, Thomasina Miers, joins 2008 winner James Nathan and 2010 finalist Alex Rushmer as they give their verdict.

After the four contestants have cooked, John and Gregg will decide which two will take the next step in the competition and go through to the first quarter-final.

See the results of day one of the competition here.