The final heats, for central England, begin. Returning to the programme after a four-year break is Marianne Lumb, now a private chef for exclusive clients. Joining her are Thom Bateman, chef patron of The Flintlock in Cheddleton, Tom Shepherd, chef patron of Upstairs in Lichfield, and Kareem Roberts, head chef at Trinity in Cambridge.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 canapés.