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Regulations amp up MasterChef challenges

COVID-19 filming precautions will hit MasterChef mid-season, embraced like another cooking twist.

Filming precautions for COVID-19 have upped the stakes for MasterChef Australia challenges, according to Poh Ling Yeow.

Steps taken to keep cast and crew safe will hit the screen mid-season, with around 8 more weeks of filming still to be completed.

“The challenges have had to be modified to accommodate all the regulations. But I just feel like it hasn’t affected anything at all. If anything, it’s amped up production to create more intense, fun challenges,” Poh tells TV Tonight.

“I think that’s really important right now because everyone’s just feeling so uncertain about the world. I think it’s nice to give people that little bit of respite from their daily lives.”

The Endemol Shine production continues filming at its Melbourne Showgrounds kitchen, able to continue as a workplace. Contestants this year are all living in apartments of 2 persons, while producers have implemented plenty of new standards on set.

“The crews have been reduced to half, so that the kitchen is a safe space. There’s hand-washing stations all along the side of the studio and we’re all practicing social-distancing,” she confirms.

“The food is divided into three plates, we have to be a lot more careful running into the pantry.”

“We’re all 1.5 metres away from each other at any given situation. The judges are standing at a really long table now with distance between them. The food is divided into three plates, we have to be a lot more careful running into the pantry. We have to wear gloves when we’re touching the ingredients.

“We’re one of the lucky ones that have been able to keep filming. It would just be so terrible to get halfway through and have to shut down.”

The ‘Back to Win’ season sees former contestants returning for a second shot at the title that eluded them all.

Poh Ling Yeow was famously runner-up in Season 1 in 2009, and has since gone on to success with her own television series on both ABC and SBS, as well as having her own cafe and career as an artist.

“I have secretly been waiting the last 11 years that they might do an All Stars show and it happened. Once you’ve been bitten by the MasterChef bug, and you’ve gone through that experience of being in that highly-charged environment, where you do things that you don’t think are possible …it’s just a really inspiring environment to be around,” she continues.

“I think I’ve always enjoyed a good fight. So it really it fits with that competitiveness in my personality.

“I’ve always had the philosophy of big risks, big gains.”

MasterChef absolutely launched my cooking career and I think with life, I’ve always had the philosophy of big risks, big gains. It’s like a great pendulum of life. So gotta be in it to win it.

“The other thing is for me, I don’t need to be perfect or flawless. I’m all about showing everyone that it’s just about having a red hot go.

“My biggest doubt going on the show is I wonder how far I can go on it. I’m such a traditional home cook and after having been in the industry for so many years I realised that is where I find my joy in cooking.

“I’m not really interested in deconstructing dishes or reinventing. My love for food comes from love of stories, culture and history. I’m really recipe-driven or as a lot of people are invention-driven and ingredient-driven.

“We’re going to provide a lot of people with a little bit of joy”

“I think we do have a lot more to lose coming back because we’ve all sacrificed so much to be here. I feel that during this strange COVID-19 world that we’re living in, it’s really the best thing we could do. We’re going to provide a lot of people with a little bit of joy every night on telly.”

Poh faces serious competition including successful alumni including Callum Haan, Hayden Quinn, Reynold Poernomo, Ben Milbourne, Simon Toohey, Tessa Boersma and Courtney Roulston. But she is confident she is a well-rounded cook.

“I love Italian, I love French I’ve got the baking side. Pastry and cakes are one of my specialties. So all that’s covered, I’ve got Chinese, I’ve got Malaysian,” she explains.

“I just have a lot of recipes in my head that I’ve cooked over the years and I know well. So that’s how I’ll get by.

“Weaknesses for me are related to the choices that I make when I’m under pressure.”

“I’ve never seen a judge eat every single plate of food”

Joining the familiar contestants are three new judges, check Jock Zonfrillo, food writer Melissa Leong and chef and former winner Andy Allen.

“Jock trained under Marco Pierre White so I think everyone was expecting him to be super-scary. But he just really enjoys his food. I’ve never seen a judge eat every single plate of food completely in a tasting. It’s astounding to watch.

“Melissa is the storyteller, she’s incredibly knowledgeable. So she gives a fantastic feminine energy to the set and she speaks very eloquently about food. Very emotive, very empathetic. Even if you’ve made a dish that falls short, she always understands the story and that’s really nice.

“It’s going to be a ripper season.”

“Andy has an incredible amount of energy, and has gone to do fantastic things -he’s hatted actually. He has a very relatable touch I think Aussies will really enjoy.

“It’s going to be a ripper season. Everyone is just a delight and that’s been one of the joys …to make all these new friends and join in this crazy fight!”

MasterChef Australia returns 7:30pm tonight on 10.

34 Responses

  1. I was an emotional wreck watching this! I was spotting recognisable faces left, right and centre. Then when they did a preview of the season and showed Katy Perry as an upcoming guest, I think a little bit of pee came out!!!

  2. Loved it! The new judges seemed to be really humble and just glad they were there to taste the amazing food. I think the familiarity in the contestants faces will help viewers as they warm to the new judges. Haven’t really watched much of the last few seasons but I think I am in for the long run on this one.

  3. It doesn’t seem possible that a show could have been more perfectly designed for isolation times. That first episode tonight just made me feel like everything is going to be ok if i don’t leave my house for the next three months. I haven’t watched it in years but it was so nice to be back in that kitchen with them all, even though I was on my couch with a toasted cheese and tomato sanga.

  4. So excited for this season, even more so after watching tonight’s ep! The judges work so well together and love seeing some old faves.

  5. So if Poh is talking about how the show is being filmed now, she obviously must make it well into the show! Filming must be almost over!!!! Enjoying it so far but think they could have got better well known judges. Hayden and Poh have both done TV show, are well known, have likeable personalities, and would have m ade great judges. Show lacks something when contestants are better known than hosts/ judges

  6. Great article, and agree with those that think this is the perfect show at this time. Likely to have impressive ratings.

    Just makes me think what a bargain CBS picked up. All of 10’s programming is pretty much consistent since takeover, but now the early investments are paying off, and the competition (particularly 7) are stalling.

  7. I cannot wait for this to come back on tonight. To see old contestants back especially Ben & Callum. New judge’s will freshen things up.

    But I read yesterday Nigella & Heston couldn’t be part of it because of the travel restrictions. That’s a shame.

    But am looking forward to down the track where we will see the impact lockdown has & how they overcome it

      1. From the second or third season, all the contestants undertook units from the CIII in Commercial Cooking. All the challenges in the show are based on traditional assessments used in cooking school. The show itself would give them elements of being an apprentice and most go on to complete either a cert III in Comerical cooking or the certificate III in Patisserie via an apprenticeship (They both have the same core units and significant overlap in elective units). It’s my understanding that they continue to undertake units whilst on the show. Gary and George are trainers… and very very good ones and would be eligible to sign off duke assessments. I would expect that reciprocal arrangements are in place with RTOs in other states and contestants leave the competition. Most contestants complete an apprenticeship and are, therefore, technically chefs. It’s also why they already know…

    1. We’re all hoping for 10 ratings will be healthy, but if they turn out average if not worse, I reckon for the first time we can attribute it to not just going for so long (12 years) and the format/all stars casting, but also the hosts (George, Matt and Gary) no longer being there.

      The trio just made that show! So loved and more popular than ever in 2015 when it resurged at a time when MKR was getting real nasty.

  8. MasterChef’s strength has always been in its ‘feel good’ narrative which has stood out from its competition every year. We need that more than ever this year so I’m glad they’ve found a way to finish the season.

  9. What a great interview. I loved all the details, especially reading about Jock’s ability to fully chow down! Cannot wait. So glad this is on. Really looking forward to the new judges.

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