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MasterChef: No ‘whitebread’ TV

MasterChef host Sarah Wilson tells TV Tonight that TEN's new reality series isn't bitchy and a diverse cast won't be "whitebread television."

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sarahwilson1Sarah Wilson is about to hit our television screens as the host of MasterChef Australia, which aside from a few stints on the Today show and filling in for Kerri-Anne Kennerley, is her first profile role on television.

As an experienced media journalist who has previously reported on the constructs of reality television, she says the show promises not to be just another bitchy reality series.

“I guarantee it,” she said. “I have actually done quite a few stories on reality TV including going to the Reality TV School in New York, but we’re two months in now. The challenges are set up not to catch people out but to really test their cooking skills.

“The judges are judges but they’ve got a dual role. Their role is actually to be mentors. Their criticism is very similar to what you would get in a commercial kitchen.

“Every now and then the judges get fired up an annoyed that the food isn’t up to scratch, but I’m there all day and I can tell you without a doubt it’s not bitchy.”

Wilson concedes the contestants came in a bit sceptical too, but  now realise there are no tricks set to catch them out.

“Fremantle (Media Australia) said to me outright when I auditioned that this was positive television and that they felt that’s where television was heading. They said it to me before I even got the job. So we had a great big conversation about that.

“Shows like Gladiators, Big Brother were bitchy for the sake of entertainment. That kind of stuff isn’t rating anymore. The tide has turned. We’re a bit tired of it, a bit cynical of it.”

Wilson also says the show has a diverse range of contestants representing different ages, ethnic backgrounds and sexualities.

“We’ve got 21 year old food nerd, ranging through to a Greek grandmother, an ex pro golfer who’s retired, there’s a lawyer from Torres Strait Islands -a lawyer who’s given up his job to do this. We’ve got a couple of mums, stay at home mums who’ve only ever cooked for their boys, who just can’t believe that they’ve been given this opportunity.

“I like to say it’s not ‘whitebread’ television.”

MasterChef Australia premieres 7:30pm Monday on TEN.

14 Responses

  1. So this is the new cycle at TEN now is it? MasterChef produces contestents for The Biggest Loser each year.. Nice way of cutting out the audition process and (hopefully) getting good ratings across the year. 😛

    Just kidding, seriously I hope MasterChef succeeds. I’ve always liked cooking shows, but I’ve hated how they’ve been full of bitching (Gordon Ramsay anyone?).

  3. There might not be “whitebread” bitches, but there is the “fully sick” bald judge. With that obese judge on it I’d l think the Biggest Loser was still on.

  6. I am sick of contrived conflict and will not watch such shows that do that. It is what killed bigbrother, other than the casting being strait from the casting couch. Surprisingly the promos have grabbed my attention. It looks creative, in that the contestants making food they make at home explaining the use of chilli sauce etc.
    I might give it a watch and trust me, I dont usually watch this kind of stuff…..except for brat camp.

  11. sounds like a fresh attempt at reality TV. I won’t be watching this and don’t really think it’ll be a hit, but at least they’re trying something different. If it truly is going to be less manipulative, less edited for shock value and more emphasis on the actual show, it might be some of that ‘blue sky television’ people have been lapping up lately.

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