MasterChef: The Professionals (BBC2, 9pm)

ONE of the most feared and respected chefs in the industry, Marcus Wareing, replaces Michael Roux Jr and joins Gregg Wallace and Monica Galetti to critique the contestants culinary attempts.

Wareing is the son of a vegetable supplier and made his mark at 18 years old, working at The Savoy before a stint at Le Gavroche under Albert Roux. He's well travelled, having been based in renowned restaurants The Grand in Amsterdam and The Point in New York. He owns three restaurants, the most recent of which, Tredwell's on Upper St Martin's Lane, opened in September.

"I have been watching MasterChef since I was a young kid at catering college and in more recent years I have enjoyed an established relationship with the programme. To now become part of the show is hugely exciting for me; to be asked is a true honour. Michel has left big shoes to fill and I am delighted to be working with Monica and Gregg on a new journey of discovery to find the next generation of Michelin-starred chefs," Wareing says.

Fellow judge, Monica adds: "Marcus is an incredibly talented chef and I can think of no better person to follow in Michel's footsteps. I'm really looking forward to filming with him."

And Gregg Wallace speaks just as highly of his new co-host: "One of the outstanding chefs of my era - I'm absolutely thrilled to be working with Marcus. He has complete and utter respect throughout the industry. My only query is will he have a beard or not."

In the first heat, five chefs from around the nation have one hour to cook a dish that will thrill the trio of judges and show them exactly what they can bring to the table. Unfortunately, the least impressive chief will be shown the door.

The remaining four will then face Monica's skills test of assembling a croquembouche in 20 minutes (with one resembling the Leaning Tower of Pisa), before Marcus tasks them with preparing an inspired plate of food, and the judges then whittle the group down to three and they will be sent through to the next round.

The Missing (BBC1, 9pm)

JAMES Nesbitt’S drama of the returns tonight, and three days since Oliver's disappearance, fingers are pointing to a known paedophile in the area. The police aren't doing much to help matters, given that they're keeping Emily (Frances O’Connor) and Tony (Nesbitt) in the dark from the little information they have. Because of this, Tony is tempted to go to ambitious journalist Malik Suri, who claims to have illegally obtained information about the suspect in custody.

Meanwhile, in present day, Tony and Julien (Tcheky Karyo) find a piece of concrete evidence that's bound to help in their fight to get the case reopened.

Miracle Babies (Channel 5, 9pm)

ONE in every nine newborns needs medical treatment at birth, and the workers AT Liverpool Women’s Hospital care for around 1,200 of the most premature and unwell of these babies every year.

Over the next four weeks, this at times emotional documentary follows the babies, parents and medical staff at the unit, and in the first episode, we meet Ethan, who stopped breathing minutes after being delivered and is now relying on a ventilator to keep him alive in intensive care. It's still a mystery as to why he's not breathing for himself so consultant Chris Dewhurst leads the search for a diagnosis.

Meanwhile, over in the maternity unit, Nicola has just given birth to her second daughter. However, she's seven weeks early and the new mother feels this may be a trigger for postnatal depression again.