A former Sheppey islander put his skills to the test in the new series of BBC Two’s Masterchef: The Professionals.

Dale McIntosh, who grew up on Sheppey before moving to Cornwall in 2001, appeared in the ninth series of the show last night.

The programme, a spin-off of Masterchef, sees professional chefs go head-to-head cooking for presenters Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing.

Dale, who works as head chef at the Gylly Beach cafe in Cornwall, said his experience was not as he imagined it would be.

The 39-year-old former Minster College pupil said: “Masterchef is probably the best and most highly-rated cooking competition in the country and it’s a real test to any chef.

“I decided to give it a go as I always seem to comment on what previous chefs have done and I wanted to see if it’s really that nerve-wracking.

“It was completely not what I imagined; it’s unbelievably tough.

“The pressure is quite something as two of the country’s top chefs and critics scrutinise your every move.

“It makes you do things you would never do in your own kitchen!

“When I’ve seen previous contestants shaking uncontrollably, now I understand why - your mind goes blank.”

On a daily basis, Dale is tasked with the responsibility of creating and overseeing meals, but he said nothing could have prepared him for the pressure of stepping into the kitchen in front of cameras.

“I, obviously, expected and knew that I would be under pressure, as my everyday job is full of pressures, but it is nowhere near as bad as being on your own in the centre of it,” he said.

“You really have to focus and try to do what you know and do best, but in that situation it’s hard to keep it together and pull it off every time, with whatever is thrown at you.”

His father Steven McIntosh, of Oak Lane, Minster, said he and his wife Susan were delighted with Dale’s achievements.

“We are just so proud of him, he has done so well for himself" - Steven McIntosh

“We are just so proud of him, he has done so well for himself,” he said.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing him on the television too. It’s going to be very surreal.”

During the show, which was filmed in August, Dale was tasked with cooking against five other chefs in the hope of securing a place in the quarter final.

Each chef had to face the much-dreaded skills tests, where their every move was scrutinised by the judges, and then they had to create their own signature dish.

Three of the six contestants on the show made it through to the next round of the competition, but the BBC remained tight-lipped as to how Dale got on.

BLOB The next episode will be aired on BBC Two tonight at 8pm.