The heats for Scotland begin. Returning to the programme is Adam Handling, whose flagship restaurant Frog by Adam Handling was awarded a Michelin star in 2022. Joining him Mark McCabe, head chef and owner of The Ethicurean, Kevin Dalgleish, head chef of Amuse in Aberdeen, and Tunde 'Abi' Abifarin, head chef at Farin Road in Edinburgh.
Presenter Andi Oliver welcomes them to the kitchen, where the theme for this year's competition is inspired by Paddington's 65th birthday and a celebration of British animation and illustration – from cartoons to comics to computer games. One of the four must leave the competition at the end of the episode, to be decided by this week's veteran judge, a previous winner who remains a surprise to the chefs until the moment they walk into the kitchen to taste the first-course canapes.