MasterChef returns tonight with a bang, promising an “explosive” premiere featuring familiar faces, top-notch cooking, and the strongest commercial support the show has seen since its early seasons. B&T caught up with judge Andy Allen and producers Sarah Thornton and Marty Benson ahead of the launch.
After debuting in 2009, MasterChef Australia quickly became one of the most popular spin-offs worldwide, and Season 17 starts streaming today on 10Play with new episodes dropping every week! Viewers outside Australia can still watch all the episodes by using a VPN to access 10Play just like they would in Australia. Check out our guide to the best VPNs for 10Play now!
According to Paramount’s head of unscripted content, Sarah Thornton, viewers are in for an “explosive start that viewers won’t necessarily expect.”
When (EndemolShine executive producer) Marty Benson and the team came to us at the network with the caliber of cast who were interested in coming back to win, it was a no brainer,
Thornton said
To have Sarah, Laura and Callum back, all who have come second, with such hunger and then the rest of the cast who are also incredible. We’ve got contestants from season one, which is just amazing.
Benson shared that this season, MasterChef has matched the number of sponsors it had during its “heyday” in seasons two and three. This includes returning partner Coles, a premium foundation sponsor, along with new sponsors LG and Lurpak.
That’s very exciting for us as a production, To have so many clients and sponsors trusting in our brand to deliver for them is brilliant.
he added
MasterChef judge Andy Allen, who won the show’s fourth season and now leads the panel alongside Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow, and Jean-Christophe Novelli, spoke to B&T about what he values most about working on the show — and it’s not just the high standard of food.
For me it is watching the growth of each individual who walks through those doors, What a lot of people don’t realise is that we film for about five months of the year. It is a big and long production. That’s when you really get the time to be able to mentor and nurture people who want to grow.
he said
The food is the food and we will always get nice food, but what has surprised me is who can work MasterChef out and succeed under so many different challenges. And what they can turn to to succeed, which isn’t always the food side of things.
Allen noted that two-thirds of MasterChef contestants end up shifting their careers toward the food industry. Without revealing too much, he said last year’s finalist Savindri Perera is an “absolute weapon” and will be one of the toughest competitors this season.
What she did last year, going through a grieving process with her mum passing away, is one example of how contestants grow during the show. To come back and be open and vulnerable, I’m really proud of her.
Allen, now the longest-serving judge following last season’s major reboot, also praised fellow judge Jean-Christophe Novelli, describing him as one of the quirkiest people he has ever met — in the best way.
You know why he is a Michelin-starred chef. He has that creative stroke of genius about him and thinks about everything differently. He always surprises you with things that he does, how he critiques food and how he mentors contestants as well. He loves that part of his role.
The judges’ passion for mentoring is one of the reasons MasterChef continues to draw large audiences of food lovers around the world.
Season 17 of MasterChef Australia premieres tonight at 7.30pm on Channel 10.
Source: B&T