If you want to know anything about MasterChef Australia (and any season at that) just ask Marty Benson.
Benson, who is the Director of Content at Endemol Shine Australia, has been at the helm of the Australian incarnation of the global reality TV juggernaut since 2015.
Now entering its 17th season, the franchise continues to evolve, without losing sight of the ingredient that’s made it such a long-running hit: integrity.
“For us, the 2025 season exemplifies everything MasterChef stands for, especially its most important drawcard in an era of reality formats dominated by conflict: fairness,” Benson told Mediaweek. “We eliminate dishes, not people.”
Endemol Shine, Director of Content, Marty Benson
A format that keeps evolving… carefully
While minor format tweaks have helped keep the show fresh, the core philosophy remains the same. As Benson puts it: “At the end of every season, no matter how successful it’s been, we ask: what can we do to make the show even better?”
That attitude extends beyond set design or mystery box contents. “It’s a cooking competition. A tough one. But it’s a fair competition,” he says. “We play the ball, not the man.”
From the ever-evolving judging line-up to more refined challenges, the format continues to improve year after year, fuelled by an internal mantra: We can always do it better.
MasterChef ‘Back to Win’ judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling-Yeow, Jean-Christophe Novelli, and Sofia Levin
How ‘Back to Win’ reignited the brand
This year’s theme is a continuation of what started during the pandemic, when ‘Back To Win’ brought returning contestants back into the MasterChef kitchen just as COVID-19 locked the rest of the world down.
“It was ironic timing,” Benson reflects. “No one could go anywhere, and suddenly all these familiar faces were back in the kitchen. But it worked. That season reignited the passion for MasterChef. It reminded the nation how premier this show is as a cooking competition.”
That momentum has carried through in a crowded and fragmented TV landscape, thanks in large part to the production team’s relentless pursuit of excellence. “We just work our butts off to make sure the show is better every single year,” says Benson.
Reynold Poernomo
From camera-shy to culinary stars
Another defining trait of MasterChef accord to Benson is its ability to transform everyday food lovers into bona fide stars, not because they’re chasing fame, but rather, because they’re chasing flavour.
‘Some of our most loved contestants have been the shyest people you could imagine,” says Benson. “Take Reynold Poernomo he could barely look at the camera when he first joined. But his drive and passion for food pushed him through.”
That approach has become a signature of the show. It’s all about the food, not the people. The contestants are just honest, passionate foodies.”
And yes, Benson admits with a laugh, “We do love it when people burn their onions.”
Gordon Ramsay on speed dial
As for bringing in big names to spice things up? Marty’s not shy about calling in a few favours.
“I’ve built up a great relationship with Gordon [Ramsay] over the years. So it’s not that hard for me to put in a call and say, ‘Are you free to kick off the series?'”
He laughs: “I try not to call too often, only when I need to. But he was delighted. He wants to stay relevant, and he wants to be part of MasterChef Australia. It’s as simple as that.”
Gordon Ramsay, MasterChef
What to expect in 2025
With new surprises and familiar faces, the 2025 season is shaping up to be both comfort food and creative reinvention. And with French celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli now part of the judging line up, Benson promises the chef “will shock and excite as you never quite know what he is going to say”, the new season is already stirring excitement.
When does Masterchef Australia start?
MasterChef Australia starts on Monday 28 April, 2025 at 7:30pm on 10 and 10 play.