The Roux Scholarship 2017 finalists have been revealed following yesterday’s two regional finals held at University of West London and University College Birmingham.

This year the challenge was to create a recipe to serve four people using a whole fresh rainbow trout and 800g live mussels, accompanied by a sauce and two garnishes, one to include jasmine rice. Contestants had two and a half hours to cook their dish as originally submitted along with a dessert from a list of mystery ingredients given to them on the day.

Michel Roux Jr. said "It was a great cook off today which bodes well for the final where knowledge of the classics will come into play."

Alain Roux said: “I could tell which chefs had practiced, it showed in the way they prepared the trout. A few lacked the skill to fillet and portion correctly without waste and the result was that some of the fish we tasted was unevenly cooked. The best got it spot on – moist and slightly pink, just what we were looking for!”

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He added: “When comparing notes with my cousin we had to make some difficult choices but we’ve got six strong chefs in the final which will make for an exciting competition.”

The 18 regional finalists were whittled down to just six following the cook off. The six finalists are:

Martin Carabott, Luca Restaurant, Clarkenwell, London

Michael Cruickshank, Bohemia, St Helier, Jersey

Scott Dineen, BaxterStorey, London

Oliver Downey, Fera at Claridge’s, Mayfair, London

Luke Selby, Dabbous, London

Matthew Whitfield, The Driftwood Hotel, Portscatho, Cornwall

The six finalists will now compete in the final for the title of Roux Scholar 2017 at Westminster Kingsway College, London on April, 10. The winner will be announced at a prestigious award ceremony at The Langham, London, that same evening.

Three Michelin starred chef, Anne-Sophie Pic will head the panel of judges as honorary president alongside joint chairmen Alain and Michel Roux Jr who will be joined by James Martin, David Nicholls, Brian Turner, head scholar Andrew Fairlie as well as previous winners Simon Hulstone, Sat Bains and André Garrett.

Fans of the Roux Scholarship are invited to join the Roux family, online via LIVE link to watch the award ceremony, as the action unfolds. You will be able to access the live link from 7pm on Monday, April 10 via www.rouxscholarship, YouTube and twitter.