Everyone’s favourite over-the-top, intensely technical cooking competition is back for an incredible twelfth series (with new judge Andi Oliver replacing Prue Leith), tipping the number of episodes aired over 500 and continuing to shed light on some of the UK’s most exciting culinary talent. It all kicks off on Tuesday 2 May so the banquet can be ready in time for Wimbledon’s 140th birthday celebrations (so expect lots of tenuous tennis puns), and it looks set to be one of the best yet. We’ll be bringing you more in-depth previews of each chef and weekly round-ups as the series progresses, but for now, here are the chefs competing in Great British Menu 2017.