North East Starter

This time three returning contenders from the North East are reunited in a culinary rematch. Colin McGurran is determined to have a repeat performance having got to the banquet in 2012. He believes anything less than cooking at the Royal Albert Hall will be a failure. But he is up against two formidable opponents: Stephanie Moon and Charlie Lakin. They were both defeated by Colin last year and are more determined than ever to get further in the competition. The chefs also raise cash in fundraising challenges and this time one of the chefs is joined by comedienne and presenter Kirsten O'Brien. The three North East chefs will be judged by a veteran of the competition - Michelin star chef Jason Atherton. He will decide which chefs make it through to the judges on Friday. The two highest scoring chefs will cook their entire menu again for the Great British Menu judges Prue Leith, Matthew Fort and Oliver Peyton. This week the judges will be joined by comedy great Tim Brooke-Taylor. The three North East chefs all want to top the leader board on day one with their starter. How will Colin McGurran's tomato gazpacho and garden salad perform? He got his starter to the banquet before so he needs to produce another impressive curtain raiser. But Stephanie Moon thinks she has a chance with a witty chicken dish called 'Why Did the Chicken...'. But will it be Charlie Lakin who will take Jason Atherton's breath away with a controversial duck dish called 'Mind Your Step'?