MasterChef: The Professionals, BBC2 - TV review: The final result was all too predictable

Professional eater Gregg Wallace is ever encouraging towards the professionals, leaving Monica Galetti to play bad cop

Masterchef: The Professionals (BBC)

Now in its eight series, MasterChef: the Professionals returned with new face Marcus Wareing, who has replaced Michel Roux Jr as a judge after the chef was forced to leave the show due to a “conflict in commercial interests” last year.

For those who thought MasterChef wouldn't be the same without Roux Jr's puppy dog eyes and soft, likeable manner, Wareing does an impressive stand-in job. His sparkling blue eyes are inviting, rather than off-putting, and he has a mild way of telling the professional chefs they're not up to scratch. Even when he's putting them down, he's still not as stern as John Torode might be.

Professional eater Gregg Wallace is as entertaining as usual; his huge grimace filling the screen at the mere thought of eating floating islands of meringue with crème anglaise. He is ever encouraging towards the professionals, leaving Monica Galetti to play bad cop.

Would-have-been florist Sam from Newcastle produced the most impressive plate of food, cooking up stone bass with pickled grapes, shaved cauliflower and a scallop purée. Bobby from Billericay with his shaved head and fake tan also proved to be a character.

But the final result was all too predictable. The three chefs who have worked in Michelin-starred kitchens all went through to the next round, while the others were shown the door. Fingers crossed that some young, self-trained experts will beat the sous-chefs as the series progresses. After all, MasterChef producers must know Brits love to champion the underdog.