MasterChef is set to return to screens for its 20th season, where new aspiring home cooks will take on the “most extraordinary tasks ever seen.”
Judges John Torode and Greg Wallace, who have been at the helm of the cooking show since its revival in 2005, will once again put a new group of contestants to the test.
The news series, which will premiere on the BBC on April 1, marks 20 years of celebrating and supporting the country’s burgeoning culinary talent.
Fifty-eight passionate and talented hopefuls from all walks of life, such as a farmer, an archaeologist and a music director, will show what they can do.
Viewers can expect to see the contestants, who come from Dorset and Sunderland to the Scottish Borders and North Wales, serve up their food and cultural heritage in the hope of reaching the final.
MasterChef is set to return to screens for its 20th series, where new aspiring home cooks will take on the “most extraordinary tasks ever”, it was revealed on Monday.
Judges John Torode and Greg Wallace, who have been at the helm of the cooking show since its revival in 2005, will once again put a new group of contestants to the test.
“I find it hard to believe that we are in the 20th season of this incredibly brilliant show,” said Australian celebrity chef and judge John, 58.
“It is a reason for pride and celebration. I believe food brings people together and every year we are lucky enough to help incredibly talented and hard-working people realize their dream and enjoy the joy that is MasterChef.’
John urged people to push themselves for Series 21, adding: “This year is very exciting, with tough tests, incredible challenges and passionate cooks, as always.” Twenty years later, MasterChef continues to prove that if you have a dream, do it!
‘The competition is stronger and more exciting every year. Thank you for taking care of me and Mr. Wallace. I hope you enjoy watching this 20th series as much as we enjoyed making it.”
Meanwhile, co-host Gregg, 59, said: “This is when the wave of ambition crashes into reality for these amateur cooks, and we’re putting them through the most extraordinary challenges we’ve ever seen.” This show is serious and we are very lucky to be able to see the level of cooking get higher and higher every year.
‘John and I are very happy to be part of a wonderful MasterChef community and, with each series, we welcome new ambitious chefs to show us what they can do. 2024 will be a celebration of the talent emerging from the country’s domestic kitchens; “This year and from our time on MasterChef until now, I can’t wait.”
First, fans must earn the right to wear a MasterChef apron in two new challenges: From Basic to Brilliant, take an everyday ingredient and turn it into something spectacular; and an invention test with a twist, as they are challenged to create a food dish based on a certain item, such as gnocchi, trout, meringue or quail.
“I find it hard to believe that we are in the 20th season of this incredibly brilliant show,” said Australian celebrity chef and judge John, 58.
The news series, which will premiere on the BBC on April 1, marks 20 years of celebrating and supporting the country’s burgeoning culinary talent.
Fifty-eight passionate and talented hopefuls from all walks of life, such as a farmer, an archaeologist and a music director, will show what they can do
Firstly, amateurs must earn the right to wear a MasterChef apron in two new challenges: From Basic to Brilliant, taking an everyday ingredient and turning it into something spectacular.
The last four standing will show off their own style in two courses served to three familiar faces from past MasterChef series. The quarterfinal report is set by some of the country’s harshest critics and chefs.
Week five will be a celebration of MasterChef talent before week six sees the contestants whittled down to just 16 for Knockout Week.
Culinary tasks include a Market Invention Test in the MasterChef kitchen; the opportunity to enter a professional kitchen for the first time and offer a lunch service in two of London’s best restaurants: Nessa, led by executive chef Tom Cenci, and Joia, under the direction of chef José Jara; and back in the MasterChef kitchen the contestants will create nine identical portions of a canapé.
Later, the semi-finalists will have to organize an extraordinary event celebrating the legacy and emerging talent of MasterChef, as well as its wider influence on the UK culinary food scene; tackling an ingredient they didn’t like as kids; creating a theatrical and surprising dish; the impressive Michelin-starred Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt; and finally, create a food dish inspired by a previous contestant.
The last four standing will show off their own style in two courses served to three familiar faces from past MasterChef series.
Week five will be a celebration of MasterChef talent before week six sees the contestants whittled down to just 16 for Knockout Week.
The final four will travel to the culinary melting pot of Singapore, where they will take on a trio of exciting challenges at Chong Pang Hawker Market, Pangium.
Returning to London, the four finalists will cook at the Chef’s Table at the world-renowned Le Gavroche, providing one of the iconic restaurant’s last services before it closes its doors for the last time, all under the watchful eye of the world’s leading chef and former MasterChef . : The professional judge, Michel Roux Jr.
Finally, after one finalist is sent packing, it returns to the studio where the Final Three must produce the three best dishes of their lives for John and Gregg, before one is crowned the 20th winner.