It’s the first day of the MasterChef 2014 semi-finals and the six semi-finalists – Angela, Jack, Luke, Michael, Ping and Robert – face one of their toughest challenges yet.

They head to east London for a catering challenge they will never forget – to cook lunch for 120 members of the cast and crew of EastEnders in Albert Square itself.

Timings in this challenge are key; with the EastEnders crew filming up to 30 scenes each day, they have strictly one hour for lunch so the food cannot be late.

The six cooks are divided into two teams, and each must serve 60 main courses and 60 desserts. For the first time, the competitors have to work together to run their own kitchens in specially constructed tents in Albert Square, under their nominated team leader.

Luke was nominated as team leader for one team with team members Angela and Robert and Ping was nominated as leader of a team with Jack and Michael. Each team is responsible for 60 main courses and 60 desserts. Ping’s team had the fish tent while Luke’s team had the meat tent, but both teams must also produce 10 vegetarian meals.

Ping’s team will serve the blue table while Luke’s team serves the red table. The EastEnders cast and crew chose a table based on their menu choice.

Luke’s team menu is: Guinea fowl breast and stuffed thigh with black pudding, mini roast potatoes, crunched parsnip and kale with masala sauce.
Their vegetarian option was wild mushroom and walnut parcel.

For dessert, they made cinnamon and saffron poach pears with crème anglais and a crushed walnut brittle.

Ping’s team menu was: Roast turbot with tomato and fennel stew, cockles and a plum purée.
Their vegetarian option was lasagne filled with morels, asparagus, pine nuts and tomato and fennel stew on the side.

For dessert, they made chocolate tart with mascarpone cream and spiced plum compote.

After a tough day in the square, the cooks head back to the MasterChef kitchen, where they are given an hour and ten minutes to cook their own refined dish to wow John and Gregg. After this challenge, one of them will leave the competition. The cook whose dish did not quite hit the mark was Robert. He said goodbye to the competition while Angela, Ping, Michael, Luke and Jack survive to cook another day.