The MasterChef arena opens its doors for the first of five heats, welcoming 58 amateurs from all over the UK to take on the challenge.The first six hopefuls arrive with their sights set on one goal: to win one of the four exclusive MasterChef aprons that secure their place in the competition. Those that make it will head straight back into battle, as only the best reach the quarter-final.John and Gregg kick things off with a brand-new challenge: Basic to Brilliant. The contestants must take an everyday ingredient and turn it into something truly spectacular. In the invention test, the contestants are tasked with creating a dish celebrating one of Gregg's favourite foods: potato gnocchi.The crescendo of this heat sees the remaining contestants cook their own two-course menu for three invited guests – 2023 champion Chariya Khattiyot and finalists Anurag Aggarwal and Omar Foster.Three are guaranteed a place in the quarter-final as they compete to become MasterChef Champion 2024.