A NORTH Dorset chef wowed judges in the first episode of MasterChef: The Professionals.

Head chef Marcus Wilcox, of The Rose and Crown in Trent near Sherborne, was one of eight ambitious contestants to face Monica Galetti’s ‘invention test’ in the first episode.

The 24-year-old impressed Monica and fellow judge Gregg Wallace with a strawberry and ginger cheesecake with black pepper shortbread, chocolate and rock salt crisp and basil foam.

They were impressed with the flavours and described his dish as demonstrating ‘obvious creativity and knowledge’. The talented chef exited the competition at the quarter final stage but said he enjoyed the whole experience.

He said: “It has been very strange but the whole thing was a great experience. The response on Twitter and Facebook has been amazing, and my phone didn't stop ringing after the show.”

Marcus has been head chef for 18 months and has been cooking professionally for 10 years Owner of The Rose and Crown, Heather Kirk said that everyone at the pub was very proud of how Marcus had performed and how much he had already achieved just to get to the televised stage of the competition.

She said: “Everybody is really supporting him, they are very proud of him because he has already gone through a massive process in this competition just to get to the top eight.”