MasterChef (UK TV series)

MasterChef
Also known as	'MasterChef Goes Large (2005–2007, original title)
Genre	Cooking
Created by	Franc Roddam
Presented by	Original series: Loyd Grossman (Series 1–10) Gary Rhodes (Series 11)
Judges	Revived series: Gregg Wallace John Torode
Narrated by	India Fisher (2005–present)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	MasterChef: 11 (original) 10 (revived) Celebrity MasterChef: 10 (aired to date)
No. of episodes	MasterChef: 146 (original series, inc. specials) 278 (revived series, at the end of series 10) Celebrity MasterChef: 211 (end of series 10)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Franc Roddam
Producer(s)	Karen Ross David Ambler
Location(s)	Original series: The Maidstone Studios, Kent Revived series: 15 Bastwick Street[1] Islington, North London (2005–2011) Ram Brewery, Wandsworth (2011–2014)[2][3]
Running time	30–90 minutes
Production company(s)	Union Pictures[4] (1990–2000) Union/West 175 (2001) Shine TV (2005–present)
Distributor	Ziji Productions
Release
Original network	BBC One (1990–2000, 2009–) BBC Two (2001, 2005–2008 and Celebrity MasterChef 2012)
Picture format	4:3 (1990–2001) 16:9 (2005–present)
Original release	Original series: 2 July 1990 (1990-07-02) – 3 July 2001 (2001-07-03) (11 years, 1 day) Revived series: 21 February 2005 (2005-02-21) – present (7008372967200000000♠11 years, 299 days)
Chronology
Related shows	Britain's Best Bakery
External links
Website
Production website

MasterChef is a BBC television competitive reality cooking show. It initially ran from 1990 to 2001 and was later revived in a different format known as MasterChef Goes Large from 2005 onwards. In 2008, the "Goes Large" part of the name was dropped, but the format remains identical. The revamped format was devised by Franc Roddam and John Silver with Karen Ross producing.

The series now appears in four versions: the main MasterChef series, MasterChef: The Professionals for working chefs, Celebrity MasterChef and Junior MasterChef for 9-to-12-year-olds.^[5] The format has been reproduced around the world in a large number of international versions.

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, although there was a price limit on ingredients. "Everyday" ingredients and equipment were 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. 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.

Revamp

In 2001, 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 two courses in just 90 minutes. It lasted just one series and was much criticised – notably by former host Grossman.

Revived series

In 2005, executive producers Franc Roddam and John Silver, along with series producer Karen Ross radically overhauled the format, and a new series was introduced, initially under the name MasterChef Goes Large. The name reverted to MasterChef in 2008.^[6]

In the new version, there are two permanent judges, John Torode and Gregg Wallace, though neither addresses the viewer directly; instead narrative information is conveyed in a voiceover by India Fisher.

The show proved very popular and became one of BBC Two's more successful early-evening programmes, leading to an announcement by the BBC in 2009 that it would be moved back to BBC One.^[7]

Format

In the new format, each series airs five 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. These four quarter-finalists compete for a semi-final place, so that over the first six weeks, six semi-finalists emerge.

In 2010, the judges were given more flexibility, allowing them to promote more than one contestant to the quarter-finals, or, in one instance, none at all.

Heats

The heats follow a three-round format:

• The Calling Card: the contestants must invent a dish from scratch in 75 minutes (40 minutes up until 2009). The contestants can choose from any ingredients they like.
• The Invention Test: the contestants are given two boxes, one with sweet items, another with savoury. They must pick a box and make a dish out of the ingredients within 75 minutes.
• The Impression Test: the contestants must cook a two course meal in 75 minutes for past winners and finalists of MasterChef. 1 hour to serve the main course, and a further fifteen minutes after that to serve dessert.

Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals follow a different structure with different challenges. Up until 2010, the format was:

• 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.

In 2010, the quarter-final format was changed to:

• The Choice Test: where the contestants are given 15 minutes to cook their choice of either a pre-selected fish recipe or a meat recipe with the judges looking on. At least one contestant is eliminated after this test.
• This is followed by the remaining quarter-finalists producing a two course meal in an hour.

Now, the quarter final format is:

• The Palate Test: Torode cooks a dish for the contestants, and they must identify the ingredients and try to recreate the dish using the ingredients given.
• The Choice Test: the chefs have 80 minutes to create a showstopping dish for the Judges and a special celebrity food critic

Comeback Week

The sixth week was called "Comeback Week" and featured contestants from the previous series of MasterChef, who did not advance past the heats or quarter-finals. The format was different for this week:

• The Skill Test: where the contestants have 25 minutes to cook one of two pre-selected recipes. Some contestants may be eliminated after this test.
• The Palate Test: where Torode cooks a complex dish and asks the contestants one by one to eat the dish, listing as many ingredients in the dish as possible. Some contestants may be eliminated after this test.
• The Pressure Test: where the remaining contestants work a lunchtime shift at a busy restaurant under the supervision of a professional chef who comments on their performance.
• The remaining contestants then have 60 minutes to cook a two course meal. One contestant is selected to advance to a quarter-final.
• The comeback quarter-finalists then cook head-to-head in a larger version of the invention test, cooking one dish in an hour. One contestant is selected to advance to the semi-finals.

MasterChef Live

MasterChef Live is an extension of the television programme. The event runs annually in November and is held over three days since 2009; it is hosted at London Olympia, co-located with the annual Wine Show.

Highlights of the event include live cookery demonstrations in the Chefs’ Theatre, celebrity chefs, former contestants, critics, and MasterChef style cook-offs.

Celebrity MasterChef

Celebrity MasterChef was devised as a celebrity version of MasterChef Goes Large. The show was screened on BBC One from 2006 to 2011; originally, a total of 24 celebrities took part in each series with three contestants per episode following the full MasterChef Goes Large test.^[8]

In 2011, the programme was moved to a daily daytime slot with 30 episodes screened over 6 weeks and featuring only 16 celebrities. In 2012, the show moved to BBC Two due to low ratings and returned to an evening 18:30 slot. In 2013, it moved back to BBC One primetime, airing at 20:00. Since 2014, the show has featured 20 celebrities competing for the title.

Contestants

• In 2006, 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, Debra Stephenson, Christopher 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, Wendi Peters, 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, Siân 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.

• In 2010, Lisa Faulkner beat Neil Stuke, Richard Farleigh, Nihal Arthanayake, Alex Fletcher, Tessa Sanderson, Jenny Powell, Colin Jackson, Tricia Penrose, Martin Roberts, Christine Hamilton, Chris Walker, Dick Strawbridge, Danielle Lloyd, Marcus Patric, Dean Macey, Mark Chapman, Jennie Bond, Mark Little and Kym Mazelle.
• In 2011, Phil Vickery^[9] beat Kirsty Wark, Nick Pickard, Darren Campbell, Linda Lusardi, Michelle Mone, Ruth Goodman, Aggie MacKenzie, Ricky Groves, Margi Clarke, Colin McAllister, Justin Ryan, Shobu Kapoor, Sharon Maughan, Tim Lovejoy and Danny Goffey.^[10]
• In 2012, Emma Kennedy^[11] beat Danny Mills, Michael Underwood, Zöe Salmon, Gareth Gates, Cheryl Baker, Laila Rouass, George Layton, Diarmuid Gavin, Richard McCourt, Rebecca Romero, Jamie Theakston, Jenny Eclair, Javine Hylton, Steve Parry and Anne Charleston.^[12]
• In 2013, Ade Edmondson beat John Thomson, Heidi Range, Shane Lynch, Miranda Krestovnikoff, Denise Black, Phillips Idowu, Speech Debelle, Brian Capron, Les Dennis, Matthew Hoggard, Katy Brand, Shappi Khorsandi, Joe Calzaghe, Jo Wood and Janet Street-Porter.^[13]
• In 2014, Sophie Thompson beat Christopher Biggins, Todd Carty, Tina Hobley, Kiki Dee, JB Gill, Wayne Sleep, Alison Hammond, Tania Bryer, Amanda Burton, Jason Connery, Ken Morley, Millie Mackintosh, Emma Barton, Russell Grant, Alex Ferns, Leslie Ash, Jodie Kidd, Charley Boorman and Susannah Constantine.^[14]
• In 2015, Kimberly Wyatt beat Keith Chegwin, Sarah Harding, Yvette Fielding, Arlene Phillips, Samira Ahmed, Andy Akinwolere, Syd Little, Amanda Donohoe, Craig Gazey, Tom Parker, Patricia Potter, Chesney Hawkes, Danny Crates, Mica Paris, Sheree Murphy, Natalie Lowe, Scott Maslen, Rylan Clark and Sam Nixon.^[15]
• In 2016, Alexis Conran beat Donna Air, Neil Back, Amelle Berrabah, Marcus Butler, Tommy Cannon, Amy Childs, Richard Coles, David Harper, Audley Harrison, Cherry Healey, Liz Johnson, Tina Malone, Louise Minchin, Laila Morse, Jimmy Osmond, Sid Owen, Gleb Savchenko, Sinitta and Simon Webbe.^[16]

MasterChef: The Professionals

MasterChef: The Professionals, a version for professional chefs, was introduced in 2008.

Junior MasterChef

Junior MasterChef originally ran from 1994 to 1999 for under-16s. It was revived in 2010 with an age range of nine to twelve. A second series of the revived format ran in 2012.

Winners

MasterChef (original series)

Year	Winner
1990	Joan Bunting
1991	Sue Longden
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

Note: The original MasterChef series did not air in 1998.

MasterChef Goes Large (revived series)

Year	Winner
2005	Thomasina Miers
2006	Peter Bayless
2007	Steven Wallis

MasterChef

The show's original name returned from series 4 in 2008.

Year	Winner
2008	James Nathan
2009	Mat Follas[17]
2010	Dhruv Baker
2011	Tim Anderson
2012	Shelina Permalloo
2013	Natalie Coleman
2014	Ping Coombes
2015	Simon Wood
2016	Jane Devonshire

Celebrity MasterChef

Year	Winner
2006	Matt Dawson
2007	Nadia Sawalha
2008	Liz McClarnon
2009	Jayne Middlemiss
2010	Lisa Faulkner
2011	Phil Vickery
2012	Emma Kennedy
2013	Ade Edmondson
2014	Sophie Thompson
2015	Kimberly Wyatt
2016	Alexis Conran

Charity specials

Year	Show	Winner
2008	Children in Need Junior MasterChef	Alexander (Billy) Wyatt
2010	Sport Relief does MasterChef	Alan Hansen
2011	Comic Relief does MasterChef	Miranda Hart
2013	Comic Relief does MasterChef	Jack Whitehall

Other notable contestants

• 1993: Ross Burden
• 2008: Emily Ludolf

UK transmission guide

Original series

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes	Hosts
1	2 July 1990	24 September 1990	13	Loyd Grossman
2	21 April 1991	14 July 1991
3	26 April 1992	19 July 1992
4	11 April 1993	4 July 1993
5	10 April 1994	3 July 1994
6	16 April 1995	9 July 1995
7	7 April 1996	30 June 1996
8	27 April 1997	3 August 1997
9	3 January 1999	28 March 1999
10	12 March 2000	4 June 2000
11	3 April 2001	3 July 2001		Gary Rhodes

Specials

• Happy 10th Birthday MasterChef: TX 18 June 2000
• Tales from the MasterChef Kitchen: Series 1, 10 editions from 2 July 2000 – 3 September 2000
• Celebrity Special: TX 27 August 2000

Revived series

MasterChef Goes Large

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	21 February 2005	1 April 2005	29
2	23 January 2006	17 March 2006	40
3	22 January 2007	15 March 2007	40

MasterChef

The show's original name returned from series 4 in 2008.

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
4	7 January 2008	28 February 2008	32
5	5 January 2009	26 February 2009
6	18 February 2010	7 April 2010	23
7 (Revamp)	16 February 2011	27 April 2011	15 (inc. audition shows)
8	17 January 2012	15 March 2012	15
9	12 March 2013	2 May 2013	23
10	26 March 2014	16 May 2014	24
11	10 March 2015	24 April 2015	24
12	23 March 2016	6 May 2016	25

Note: Series 7 of MasterChef featured 'talent show-type' audition shows (similar to The X Factor) in which hopeful chefs cooked in front of the judges to secure a place in the competition. More than 20,000 people applied to audition for the series.^[18]

Specials

• What The Winners Did Next – Special on winners from Series 1 and 2 of MasterChef Goes Large; aired 22 January 2007

Celebrity MasterChef

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	11 September 2006	29 September 2006	15
2	28 May 2007	15 June 2007
3	2 July 2008	25 July 2008	12
4	10 June 2009	10 July 2009	15
5	21 July 2010	20 August 2010
6 (Revamp)	12 September 2011	22 October 2011	30 (daily shows) 13 (catch-up shows)
7	13 August 2012	21 September 2012	30
8	31 July 2013	6 September 2013	18
9	10 June 2014	18 July 2014
10	18 June 2015	24 July 2015	12
11	22 June 2016	29 July 2016

Note: Series 6 of Celebrity MasterChef was aired weekdays on BBC One at 2:15 pm.^[19] Catch-up shows were also aired on Fridays at 20:30 (30 minutes long) and on Saturdays at various times (60 minutes long).

See also

• MasterChef: The Professionals
• Junior MasterChef

References

External links

• MasterChef at BBC Programmes
• MasterChef at UKGameshows.com
• Celebrity MasterChef at BBC Programmes
• Celebrity MasterChef at the Internet Movie Database
• MasterChef Goes Large at UKGameshows.com
• MasterChef Goes Large at the Internet Movie Database