MasterChef New Zealand
New Zealand's adaptation of the British cooking competition.
MasterChef New Zealand is a competitive reality cooking show that follows the format of the original British version. It first aired on TV One on 3 February 2010 at 7:30pm. The judging panel has included Ross Burden, Ray McVinnie, Simon Gault, Josh Emett, Al Brown, and Mark Wallbank at various points. Like MasterChef Australia, contestants face weekly elimination challenges both alone and in teams, but the New Zealand series aired only two episodes per week compared to Australia’s six. TVNZ cancelled the show after five seasons in October 2014, and TV3 picked it up later that month. However, TV3 announced in October 2015 that it would not return in 2016. After a six-year break, TV3 confirmed in November 2021 that MasterChef New Zealand would come back.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Reality television, Cooking show
- Creator
- Franc Roddam
- Opening theme
- "Here I Come" by Cindy Ruakere (series 1-5), "Kings & Queens" by Brooke Fraser (series 6)
- Country
- New Zealand
- Language
- English
- Series
- 7
- Episodes
- 97
- Location
- Auckland
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The first series was won by Brett McGregor, over runner-up Kelly Young, in the grand finale screened on 28 April 2010.
- Series 2 saw the induction of Josh Emett to the judging panel, replacing series one judge Ross Burden.
- Series 5 was the only series where competitors competed in duos, won by sister duo Karena and Kasey Bird.
- In October 2014, TVNZ announced it had axed the show after 5 seasons, but TV3 picked it up later that month.
- The seventh season, premiering 29 May 2022, featured judges Nadia Lim, Vaughan Mabee, and Michael P Dearth.
Format
At the beginning of the series, a large number of hopeful contestants from across New Zealand individually audition by presenting a dish of their choosing to the judges in order to gain one of the 24 places. Entrants must be aged 18 or over, and must be a New Zealand or Australian citizen or permanent resident, or holder of a New Zealand residence class visa. They cannot hold a formal catering qualification gained in the last ten years, cannot have worked in a professional or semi-professional kitchen (if the work was only part-time or for education, then only in the past 15 years), and cannot have been convicted of a serious crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created MasterChef New Zealand?
MasterChef New Zealand was created by Franc Roddam.
How many episodes of MasterChef New Zealand are there?
MasterChef New Zealand has 97 episodes across 7 seasons.
More in New Zealand Television Series Based on British Television Series
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