Chefs compete to cook at a banquet to celebrate 25 years of Red Nose Day. The curtain raises on the competition in the North West.

Chefs compete to cook at a banquet to celebrate 25 years of Red Nose Day. The North West chefs cook their fish courses.

Chefs compete to cook at a banquet to celebrate 25 years of Red Nose Day. The North West chefs cook their main course.

Chefs compete to cook at a banquet to celebrate 25 years of Red Nose Day. The North West chefs get a final chance to impress with their dessert.

Three of the north east's finest attempt to dazzle the mystery judge with their starters.

Three of the north east's superstar chefs hope to impress with their fish courses.

Frances Atkins, Paul Welburn and Colin McGurran try to impress the veteran judge with their main courses.

It is the north east chefs' last chance to impress as only two will get to cook for the judges.

Three of Northern Ireland's top chefs go head to head with their starter courses to impress the judges.

Three of Northern Ireland's top chefs - Chris McGowan, Danni Barry and Ben Arnold - are cooking their fish courses. Ambitious Ben is determined to steal Chris's regional crown, but under fierce scrutiny from the week's formidable veteran, will the pressure to deliver spell meltdown?

Three of Northern Ireland's finest chefs go head to head as they battle for the main course.

It's dessert day and the Northern Irish chefs are all striving for one of the two spots in the week's regional final. The pressure is intense, and in the end one chef must leave the competition empty-handed.

Two newcomers to the competition are challenging reigning north west champion Matt Worswick.

It is the fish course and reigning north west champion Matt Worswick has reason to be confident.

It is the main course of the north west regional heat and the scores mean this is a crucial round.

The three north west competitors are getting highly creative producing some of the most original and stunning desserts.

Creative culinary competition. Three newcomers are vying to be crowned champion of Scotland. Lorna is fusing Scottish produce with unusual Japanese flavours.

Culinary competition. The chefs are out to impress with the fish dish. Ben sets himself a mammoth task with a dish featuring an unusual array of ingredients.

Creative culinary competition. It is main course day and the heat is on. Ross aims to impress with a tribute to Alexander Fleming featuring an unusual yeast element.

Creative culinary competition. Lorna cooks a personal tribute to the NHS staff who have cared for her during treatment for a rare blood condition.

In the Welsh heats, two chefs cook lamb starters entitled Green, Green, Grass of Home.

Cindy’s beef main course, called Spice up Your Life, involves a risky combination of wasabi and horseradish that she is hoping will set her apart from the other two chefs.