The professional chefs taking part will have to cook a six-course banquet inspired by anything on that theme: from cartoon series and comics to video games.

First up is the North East heat, which sees top chefs from that region try to impress the Michelin-starred and veteran judge, Angela Hartnett OBE.

Trying his luck again is Gareth Bartram from Grimsby. Head Chef at the single Michelin-starred Winteringham Fields in Scunthorpe, Bartram fell just short of the regional finals in 2021.

Joining him are Yorkshire's Will Lockwood, Head Chef at one Michelin-starred Roots in York with his modern, ingredient-led cooking, Northumberland’s Cal Byerley, the creative, seasonal chef behind Pine with a Michelin star and a green star to his name, and Newcastle’s Rory Welch, Head Chef at Träkol in the city, with a Michelin plate, who prefers cooking over open fire.

Among the mouth-watering and imagination-capturing dishes are vegan starters inspired by classics of stop motion and illustration like The Clangers and Kylie Dixon's The Magical World of Mushroom Marvellous, as well as a battle between two Paddington-themed fish courses.

Andi Oliver is back to present the series, alongside judges Tom Kerridge, Nisha Katona and Ed Gamble.

Great British Menu starts January 31 on BBC Two at 8.00pm.