‘MasterChef’ is already facing its tenth edition

His started going unnoticed among TVE viewers. That first ‘MasterChef’ program, which La 1 launched in April 2013, averaged an 11% share of the screen and barely two million followers. A change in its broadcast day in the third gala, which featured a Champions League match as the opening act, reversed the trend and made the program the great success of the decade on public television, tripling the audience in the final of the premiere. The culinary contest now celebrates ten editions with a batch of deliveries that will feature new applicants and a very special reunion in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz) that brought together all the contestants in the history of the format.

“We have unintentionally professionalized ourselves,” admits chef Pepe Rodríguez, one of the members of the jury, who points out that ‘MasterChef’ helped “democratize” haute cuisine in the homes of all Spaniards. The new applicants, says the Manchego, “are raising” the level compared to the first casting a decade ago. An opinion shared by her partner Samantha Vallejo-Nágera, who believes that gastronomy “has grown a lot” thanks to television space. «We have normalized and disclosed the kitchen. Ten years later, generations of children have learned what it is, for example, to do a spherification”, adds, for his part, Jordi Cruz.

Because ‘MasterChef’ came to TVE when cooking shows were limited to occupying a space in the morning or evening slot. The public channel, together with the production company Shine Iberia, took the stoves to prime time with an adaptation of an international format that combined gastronomy and competition. Since 2013, and with four versions of the program per year behind it (anonymous, ‘celebrity’, ‘junior’ and now also the ‘Abuelos’ edition), the brand has established itself as a television classic. The hit of the decade. “It has been ten years making history, fulfilling dreams and reaching the hearts of all Spaniards”, highlights the director of Communication and Participation of the corporation, María Eizaguirre.

In this line, the CEO of Shine Iberia, Macarena Rey, has also spoken, who has also highlighted the “change” of the members of the jury since the first installment: from the kitchen to being authentic television stars. «They move around the set as if they were at home. There is nothing left of those three rookies, ”jokes the board. “What we do here is not done in the world. Combine the sense of humor, the quality of the kitchens and the ‘reality’, a formula from Spain. We are the only country that broadcasts four versions of ‘MasterChef’ a year », she adds.

However, criticism of the program has also been present throughout this time, mainly related to the treatment of some contestants or those cooked. “They are taken into account and an explanation is always given for all the decisions that are made in the program. ‘MasterChef’ brings a lot of joy to this house, with an unconditional audience that supports it. It is an open and respectful program”, defends Eizaguirre. From the production company, it is also explained that they have psychologists and doctors for the participants of all versions.

Second Chances

Regarding the new season, which La 1 will premiere after the Easter holidays, Macarena Rey assures that it is the edition of “second chances” and of people with “a very hard life path” in which the kitchen “It has been his salvation.” “Cooking has this magical effect of transforming and turning something that doesn’t matter into a gift,” she notes. Among the new contestants, there will be a Gipuzkoan similar to the actor Karra Elejalde, with his “eight Basque surnames”, a Belgian resident in the Region of Murcia “very fan of Eurovision” and a Catalan administrative “passionate about the Korean world”.

During the new deliveries, ‘MasterChef’ will prepare almost a thousand servings to donate to Messengers of Peace, will make an Eskimo cook, will travel to the Fallas de Valencia and will also visit the Celler de Can Roca. The program will also cook with the singer Joan Manuel Serrat and will again receive great chefs, such as Ferrán Adriá, Martín Berasategui, Dabid Muñoz and Andrea Tumbarello, among others.