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Junior MasterChef

Junior MasterChef is an inspired idea, immaculately produced, and the level of talent is simply staggering.

Junior MasterChef is going to melt hearts.

Straight up, this is an inspired idea, immaculately produced.

Unlike that also-ran, Celebrity MasterChef, this series is dripping in humility, optimism and dreams.

The level of talent amongst the pint-sized chefs is simply staggering.They were plating up dishes of Riccotta Gnocchi, Baklava, Goat Cheese Wontons with Balsamic Glaze, Glass Noodles with Lime and Mint and Quatre Quarts.

The challenges, international cuisine and desserts, were certainly no pushovers.

With names like Tegan, Ashkan, Tayla, Dakota, Sofia, Adelaide and even Clarrie, the children came from diverse backgrounds. They didn’t come across as too precocious and there were examples of generosity, including congratulating direct competitors. Plenty of times that was missing from the “adult” version.

To harness a passion for food amongst children is even a noble mission. Too often television narrowly focusses on either sports or the arts in this genre.

As the Top 50 competed for 20 places, eager parents watched on from the wings, giving the premiere a sense of spirit and support.

Buoyant judges Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris were joined by new recruit Anna Gare, whose bright personality slipped in seamlessly to this established brand, restoring a female touch that was absent from the show’s last season.

Having her will help break up those Calombaris lines about 10-seconds-to-go-this-is-your-time-to-shine….

There were already tears, but they were tears of joy. “This always happens,” said an elated young Sam, having won a place in the Top 20.

There was so much entertainment value, it ran a whole hour without even needing to draw upon Matt Preston.

But without the back to back episodes it will also be harder to connect with the ‘characters’ in the cast and benefit from the soapie-style storylines of the main event.

Produced by Shine Australia, it was hard to spot any additional divergence from the brand established by FremantleMedia Australia -maybe that’s because Mark and Carl Fennessy and Paul Franklin  were at the former company.

Suddenly, no sooner had the show started it felt like it was over.

There isn’t a TV network around that won’t be kicking themselves they don’t have this one.

Junior MasterChef airs 7:30pm Sundays on TEN.

29 Responses

  1. Anything that encourages kids (or adults for that matter) to put their passion and energy into something positive and constructive has to be good. Sure there might be the occasional cringe inducing stage managed moment but that’s ok. I think we could all do with a break from the cynicism, bitchyness, and crassness that so strongly pervades most other shows on television.

  2. I heard Matt Preston will only be in the show occasionally as he is really tall and intimadating for the kids….basically he scares them (true story).
    I am gobsmacked that such young kids can create such complex dishes and even know what they are called…when I was that age all I could cook was baked beans on toast and scrambled eggs…and I had No idea what tempered chocolate was.

  3. Catherine: The guy on the morning show also commented on the parents living their own dreams through their kids. Channel 10 won’t care. It’s all extra publicity for them. I wouldn’t be surprised if 7 or 9 try to come up with their own tacky version of the show sometime. They wouldn’t be so critical then!

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