What is MasterChef Australia?
MasterChef Australia is a cooking competition television show on Network Ten, first aired in 2009. Amateur home cooks compete in challenges to win the title of MasterChef and a cash prize.
The show is based on the British format but became a much bigger hit in Australia, with millions watching the first season's finale. Its focus on cooking skill and supportive judging set it apart from other reality shows.
The original judges were chefs George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan and food critic Matt Preston. From 2020, new judges included Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo, who died in 2023.
Challenges
Contestants face mystery boxes, invention tests, pressure tests set by famous chefs, team challenges and elimination rounds, all against the clock in the MasterChef kitchen in Melbourne.
Many contestants have opened restaurants, food trucks and cafes, written cookbooks or become television presenters. Winners such as Julie Goodwin, the first champion, and Poh Ling Yeow, a popular runner-up, became household names.
The Australian version has been broadcast in many countries, and spin-offs such as Junior MasterChef have been popular. The show helped spark a boom in home cooking and food culture across Australia.
Did You Know?
The 2009 finale was watched by more than 3.7 million Australians, making it one of the most-watched non-sport TV programs in Australian history.