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MasterChef (British TV series)

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This article is about the BBC television show. For the Australian TV series, see MasterChef Australia. For the New Zealand TV series, see MasterChef New Zealand. For the food brand, see Master Chef.
MasterChef
GenreCookery
Presented byLoyd Grossman (1990–2000)
Gary Rhodes (2000–2001)
Gregg Wallace (2005–present)
John Torode (2005–present)
Michel Roux, Jr. (2008–present)
Narrated byIndia Fisher (2005–present)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Original release
NetworkBBC
Release1990–2001 (original format)
2005–present (Goes Large, current format)

MasterChef is a BBC television cookery game show. It ran initially from 1990 to 2001, and was revived in a different format as MasterChef Goes Large from 2005 onwards. The "Goes Large" part of the name was dropped in 2008 but the format remains identical. The revamped format was devised by Karen Ross and John Silver, who updated the original Franc Roddam format. The series now appears in three versions: the main MasterChef series, MasterChef: The Professionals for working chefs, and Celebrity MasterChef. All three versions have been commissioned up to and including 2011.

Original series

In the original series, three amateur cooks took part in each episode, with nine heats leading up to three semifinals and a final, in which they competed for the title of Masterchef. Their task was to cook a gourmet, three-course meal in under two hours. Contestants could cook whatever they liked, though there was a price limit on ingredients. "Everyday" ingredients and equipment was provided for them, in addition to which they could bring in up to five "specialist" ingredients or utensils.

The first incarnation of the series was presented by Loyd Grossman, who was joined each week by two guest judges, one a professional chef, the other a celebrity. Grossman and the guest judges discussed the menus, wandered around talking to the contestants, and finally ate and judged the food at the end. Originally, the judges' "cogitations" took place off-camera, though later on edited highlights of the discussions were added between the tasting and the announcement of the winner.

In 1998, Grossman decided to take a one-series sabbatical. He returned to present the 1999 series, but left the programme in 2000.

Junior Masterchef

Based on the Masterchef format, Junior Masterchef was for cooks up to the age of 16. Presented by Loyd Grossman from 1994, it used the same set and format. A new series is due to be released soon on CBBC.[citation needed]

Revamp

In 2000, the series underwent a makeover. It was moved from its traditional Sunday afternoon slot on BBC One to a new weeknight slot on BBC Two. The "celebrity" judge was dropped, and chef Gary Rhodes took over as presenter. This new version of the series asked contestants to cook just two courses in 90 minutes. It was much criticised (notably by former host Loyd Grossman[citation needed]). It lasted just one series.

MasterChef (Goes Large)

In 2005, Karen Ross and John Silver radically overhauled the format, and a new series was introduced under the title MasterChef Goes Large, which in turn was renamed MasterChef[1] in 2008. In the new version, there are two permanent judges, John Torode and Gregg Wallace, though neither addresses the viewer directly. Instead information is conveyed in a voiceover by India Fisher.

The new series airs four nights a week for eight weeks, consisting of six weeks of heats and quarter-finals, with six contestants emerging to compete against one another over the final two weeks to select a winner.

In each of the first six weeks, there are four heats and a quarter-final. Six contestants enter each heat, with one quarter-finalist emerging from each of the four heats, and these four quarter-finalists compete for a semi-final place, so that over the first six weeks, six semi-finalists emerge.

The heats follow a three-round format:

  • The Invention Test: the contestants must invent a dish from scratch in 50 minutes (40 minutes up until 2009). The contestants can choose from any of a selection of ingredients provided on the day. This forms the first round of the programs and reduces the contestants from six to three cooks.
  • The Pressure Test: Working a lunchtime shift at a busy restaurant under the supervision of a professional chef who comments on their performance.
  • The Final Test: Cooking a two course meal, with the contestants designing their own menus and choosing their own ingredients, in one hour.
Torode and Wallace at Masterchef Live, London, 2009

The quarter-finals follow a different structure with different challenges:

  • The Ingredients Test: where the contestants are asked to identify a selection of ingredients or produce.
  • The Passion Test: in which each contestant has one minute to convince the judges of their overwhelming passion for food. Following these two rounds, one contestant is knocked out without having cooked that day.
  • Finally the remaining three quarter-finalists each produce a three course meal in one hour and twenty minutes.

Although the programme has faced some criticism for perceived "dumbing down" and the overt bias of the two presenters, it has proven very popular and is one of BBC Two's more successful early-evening programmes. The show's popularity led to an announcement by the BBC that the series would be moved to BBC One.[2]

Audition Process.

There are three stages to get to appear on the programme. [citation needed]

Stage 1 is to fill out an online application form at www.masterchef.tv
Stage 2 is a telephone interview conducted by one of the researchers from Shine TV, the company that makes the programme. Quite in depth questions concerning your influences, best dishes, style of cooking etc.
Stage 3 is to meet production staff normally at a hotel (they travel around the whole UK) and to talk in front of a camera and take one dish that you have prepared yourself which must be cold.

Celebrity MasterChef

Based on the format of MasterChef Goes Large, a new programme of celebrity contestants face the MasterChef challenge on BBC One. There are three contestants per episode with a total of 24 celebrities taking part[3], who follow the full MasterChef Goes Large test.

In 2006, rugby player Matt Dawson beat Arabella Weir, Charlie Dimmock, David Grant, Fred MacAulay, Graeme Le Saux, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Helen Lederer, Ian McCaskill, Jilly Goolden, Kristian Digby, Lady Isabella Hervey, Linda Barker, Marie Helvin, Paul Young, Richard Arnold, Roger Black, Rowland Rivron, Sarah Cawood, Sheila Ferguson, Simon Grant, Sue Perkins, Tony Hadley and Toyah Willcox

In 2007, Nadia Sawalha beat Midge Ure, Craig Revel Horwood, Jeremy Edwards, Chris Bisson, Martin Hancock, Sunetra Sarker, Gemma Atkinson, Sherrie Hewson, Pauline Quirke, Rani Price, Chris Hollins, Matthew Wright, Angela Rippon, Sue Cook, Lorne Spicer, Emma Forbes, Jeff Green, Darren Bennett, Sally Gunnell, Mark Foster, Matt James, Robbie Earle and Phil Tufnell.

In 2008, Liz McClarnon beat Linda Robson, Louis Emerick, Wendi Peters, Debra Stephenson, Chris Parker, Joe McGann, Steven Pinder, Mark Moraghan, Vicki Michelle, Sean Wilson, Clare Grogan, Hywel Simons, DJ Spoony, Claire Richards, Denise Lewis, Noel Whelan, Andi Peters, Andrew Castle, Michael Buerk, Kaye Adams, Julia Bradbury, Josie D'Arby and Ninia Benjamin.

In 2009, Jayne Middlemiss beat Colin Murray, Simon Shepherd, Janet Ellis, Deena Payne, Iwan Thomas, Rav Wilding, Pete Waterman, Stephen K. Amos, Gemma Bissix, Shirley Robertson, Ian Bleasdale, Paul Martin, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Brian Moore, Saira Khan, Rosie Boycott, Michael Obiora, Joel Ross, Shobna Gulati, Dennis Taylor, Sian Lloyd, Jan Leeming and Joe Swift. There was also a week of Comeback contestants featuring Joe McGann, Marie Helvin, Linda Barker, Claire Richards, Rowland Rivron, Ninia Benjamin, Steven Pinder, Wendi Peters, Helen Lederer, Tony Hadley, Martin Hancock and Jeff Green, from which Wendi Peters reached the series final.

MasterChef: The Professionals

A version for professional chefs. While Greg Wallace and India Fisher reprise their roles as co-judge and voiceover, Torode is replaced by Michel Roux, Jr., who has two Michelin stars. Derek Johnstone won the competition on the 19th September 2008, and went on to take a job with Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche restaurant in London.

The second series began on Monday 14th September 2009 at 8:30pm on BBC2 and was won by Steve Groves on Thursday 22 October 2009.

Winners

Masterchef

  • 1990 - Joan Bunting
  • 1991 - Sue Lawrence
  • 1992 - Vanessa Binns
  • 1993 - Derek Johns
  • 1994 - Gerry Goldwyre
  • 1995 - Marion Macfarlane
  • 1996 - Neil Haidar
  • 1997 - Julie Friend
  • 1999 - Lloyd Burgess
  • 2000 - Marjorie Lang
  • 2001 - Rosa Baden-Powell

Junior Masterchef

  • 1994 - Katie Targett-Adams
  • 1995 - Jenna Tinson
  • 1996 - Lucy Wright
  • 1997 - Serena Martine
  • 1999 - Dominique Fraser

MasterChef (Goes Large)

Celebrity MasterChef

MasterChef: The Professionals

  • 2008 - Derek Johnstone (Chef)
  • 2009 - Steve Groves (Chef)

Note: The original Masterchef and Junior Masterchef did not air in 1998

Other notable contestants

Masterchef Live

In 2009 the BBC Good Food Show London has partnered with MasterChef to launch MasterChef LIVE at London Olympia (13-15 Nov 2009).[citation needed]

The new-look show includes The Invention Test, The Masterchef Restaurant, MasterChef MasterClasses, MasterChef Cook-Off’s and MasterChef ‘Hot Tips’.

Visitors can book places the Invention Test where they’ll cook live in front of a live audience, with the top three going through to be judged by John Torode and Gregg Wallace themselves.

International adaptations

An Australian adaptation, with significant changes in format, was first broadcast in July 2009 on Network Ten. A celebrity version followed in October 2009. The first series was a success in the ratings, with the finale becoming Australia's third most watched television program since 2001.[5]

In November 2009, Television New Zealand announced the production of a New Zealand adaptation.[6] The series commenced airing 3 February 2010 on TV ONE.

It was also announced in November 2009 that Gordon Ramsay will co-produce and host an American version for the Fox Network, to air in 2010. The format will be based on the Australian version.[7]

A Norwegian adaptation premiered on TV3 on 16 March 2010. [8]

A French adaption will also air in 2010 on M6.[9].

References

  1. ^ "Two Programmes - MasterChef - Previous episodes". BBC. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  2. ^ "Press Office - MasterChef rustles up move to BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  3. ^ "Food - TV and radio - Celebrity MasterChef biographies". BBC. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  4. ^ [http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html? Mat_wins_MasterChef_2009_title&in_article_id=560272&in_page_id=7&in_a_source= Mat wins MasterChef 2009 title]
  5. ^ 3.74m viewers power MasterChef finale
  6. ^ Vass, Beck (17 November 2009). "TVNZ announces 2010 programmes". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  7. ^ Fox orders 'Idol'-style cooking competition starring Gordon Ramsay
  8. ^ http://www.tv3.no/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20543&Itemid=1779
  9. ^ Shine cooks up French MasterChef
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