Martin Carabott, from Luca Restaurant, London, Michael Cruickshank from Bohemia, Jersey, Scott Dineen from BaxterStorey, London, Oliver Downey from Fera at Claridges, London, Luke Selby from Dabbous, London and Matthew Whitfield from The Driftwood Hotel, Portscatho will compete in the final at Westminster Kingsway College on Monday, April 10th.

Whitfield said: “I entered in 2011 and 2012 and didn’t get through and then went and worked away for a while. I decided to have another go this year because, due to my age, this is my last chance. I’m very happy to get through and hope to try and enjoy the final.”

The regional finals saw competing chefs serve four people using a whole fresh rainbow trout and 800g of live mussels, with a sauce and two garnishes, one to include jasmine rice in two and a half hours.

Judges included Alain Roux, James Martin and Simon Hulstone in London and Michel Roux Jr, Brian Turner and Andre Garrett in Birmingham.

At the final, the contestants will be given a recipe and ingredients for a main dish and given three hours to prepare and present it to the judges, including three-Michelin starred chef Anne-Sophie Pic who will head the panel of judges as honorary president.

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at The Langham, London, on the evening of the competition.

Established in 1984 by Alain and Michel Roux, the Roux Scholarship gives the winning chef the opportunity to work in a three-Michelin starred restaurant.