The heats for the south west of England begin. Returning to the programme are Nick Beardshaw, head chef at Kerridge's Bar and Grill, and chef Charlotte Vincent, who cooked her whole menu last year but didn't make it to the judges. They are joined by Andi Tuck, head chef at St Kew Inn in Cornwall, and Amber Francis, head chef at the Zebra Riding Club in Hertfordshire.
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.