Masterchef

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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 series was devised by Franc Roddam.

Contents

[edit] Masterchef - 1990 to 2001

In the original series, three amateur cooks took part in each episode, with nine heats leading up to three semi-finals 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 TV presenter, actor or other personality. 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, Grosman decided to take a one series sabatical. He returned to present the 1999 series, but after review and interests in other business began to blossom, Grossman decided he had done enough and left the programme.

[edit] Junior Masterchef - 1994 to 1999

Based on the "Masterchef" format, Junior Masterchef was for cooks up to the age of 16. Presented by Loyd Grossman, it used the same set and format.

[edit] Series2 - 2000 and 2001

In 2000, the series underwent a makeover. It was moved from its traditional Sunday afternoon slot on BBC1 to a new weeknight slot on BBC2. 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.

[edit] Masterchef goes Large - 2005 to present

In 2005, a radically overhauled version of the concept was introduced under the title Masterchef Goes Large. In the new version, there are two permanent judges, John Torode and Gregg Wallace though neither addresses the viewer directly - instead information is conveyed by a voiceover performed by India Fisher. The new series airs five nights a week for eight weeks, and incorporates various different challenges for the amateur chefs, including:

  • Inventing a dish from scratch in 40 minutes. 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.
  • Working a lunchtime shift at a busy restaurant.
  • Cooking a final meal of two courses, with ingredients of the contestants' choice in one hour.

Six contestants begin each heat, with three eliminated after the first task. Contestants often find themselves in two minds whether to 'play it safe' or attempt something slightly more experimental or unorthodox. The daily winners go through to a weekly quarter-final. The weekly quarter-finals produce six winners who are then whittled down over the final two weeks. The quarter-final follows a different structure with different challenges:

  • The ingredients test, where the contestents 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, one contestant is knocked out without having cooked that day)
  • Finally the contestants produce a three course meal in one hour and twenty minutes.

Although the programme has faced some criticism for perceived "dumbing down", it has proven very popular and is one of BBC Two's more successful early-evening programmes.

[edit] Celebrity Masterchef - 2006

Based on the format of "Masterchef goes Large", a new program of celebrity contestants face the Masterchef challenge from 11 September 2006 on BBC 1. There are three contestants per episode with a total of 24 celebrities taking part, who followed the full Masterchef goes Large test.

Filming began on a new series of Celebrity Masterchef in January 2007.[citation needed]

[edit] Winners

Neither series ran in 1998

[edit] Masterchef

[edit] Junior Masterchef

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

[edit] Masterchef goes Large

[edit] Celebrity Masterchef

[edit] External links

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