Last month MasterChef Australia returned to Channel 10 for its 13th season, the second with new judges Jock Zonfrillo, Andy Allen, and Melissa Leong.
Mediaweek spoke with the executive producer of the show Marty Benson from Endemol Shine about the show’s new season and how the pandemic has affected production.
After season 12 featured an all-star cast of previous contestants, Benson said that this season feels like the first proper season for the new judges.
“This is the real MasterChef, this is what it’s all about; ordinary people coming in and learning how to cook extraordinary food.
“What we were excited about when we were planning this season was seeing Jock, Andy, and Mel meeting new contestants for the first time. And giving them the opportunity to select the cast, and to see how they cope with that.”
Benson said that there is no such a thing as a perfect season and the production team is always trying to make the show better and more exciting.
“There are so many new challenges that we haven’t done before and you think how could you keep doing new challenges when you have done 1,000 episodes. Ideas are infinite.”
When asked about the new judges Benson said that he kept it simple when giving them advice about how to behave on screen.
“Our big mantra last year to the judges was two things, the first was to be yourselves so don’t try to be George, Gary and Matt and the second was to just be loose and don’t be afraid to do something like run up the stairs and do a time call, you have to own that space. And I feel like everyone felt that loosening up.”
The show’s previous judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris completed 11 seasons before departing, and Benson said that the new judges bring a fresh energy to the set.
“Our format is quite rigid, there is an intro, a cook, a tasting, and then a verdict. What is so great about Mel, Jock and Andy is that they really embrace that direction. You see them munching around in the pantry all the time, or dancing with each other, running up stairs or just calling each other over.
“I think Gary, Matt, and George got almost too into a rhythm which is understandable because we did almost 1,000 episodes. Jock Mel and Andy are still fresh to it and you can tell because they have so much enthusiasm.”
Filming during Covid-19
While the pandemic didn’t affect the length of the production, Benson said that it affected the way they made the show.
“Things like tastings take longer now and it’s bizarre to think in the old days judges just used to taste from the same dish. Now when somebody brings a dish up to the judges, they have to split it into three smaller dishes so they can taste it.
“We used to have 18 or 20 people in the control room and now there is seven because we have to have social distancing and be careful.”
After producing the end of season 12 during the pandemic, and Junior MasterChef under strict protocols, Benson said that the team was excited to be able to take the show on the road.
“We weren’t able to take the production off-site till week four this year so that affected us creatively. How do you do a team challenge when you can’t go off site? These are the challenges we faced but it forces you to come up with new creative ideas.
“We did a beautiful trip around Victoria and we are also going for the first time up to the Northern Territory in Uluru.”
One of the main changes to the show this season has been the appearance of international judges. The second week of the show this season was Superstar Week with a series of international judges beaming into the show.
“One thing that I am proud of is how we handled our international guests. We had a week where we had Nigella Lawson, Yotam Ottolenghi, Massimo Bottura, Clare Smyth, and Heston Blumenthal. Yes, we could have live linked with them and they could of set a challenge but that would have been boring. So how do we get them to be part of every challenge even though they are not there physically? I think we smashed that out of the park.”
After the first four weeks of production, Benson said that Covid restrictions were eased, allowing for aspects to return to production.
“The contestants, when they get eliminated at the start there is a lot of elbowing going on, and later on in the series you will see them hugging again. And with the judges, it’s a bit weird if someone gets eliminated and you come up and give them an elbow, but it is something that we have accepted but as the season progresses you see hugs again which is nice.
“Last year young Jess got eliminated and she was our first Covid elimination and also our youngest contestant and it was just so gut wrenching watching her stand there crying and we couldn’t give her a hug.”