Filming is well and truly underway on the upcoming season of MasterChef, with this year’s contestants spotted filming in Melbourne on Thursday.
The aspiring chefs were pictured competing in a challenge at the Lune Croissanterie bakery.
It’s the first time the contestants have been seen ahead of the upcoming season, which will air sometime in April.
MasterChef is back: Filming is well and truly underway on the upcoming season of MasterChef, with this year’s contestants spotted filming in Melbourne on Thursday
A teaser trailer for the show was released late last month, introducing viewers to a handful of the contestants set to appear on the upcoming series.
One contestant, Brent, revealed he’s a self-taught cook, having grown up on a steady diet of meat-and-three-veg.
‘My cooking style, it’s a bit like my face: not refined at all,’ he joked.
Ready, set, cook: The aspiring chefs were pictured competing in a challenge at the Lune Croissanterie bakery
New stars: It’s the first time the contestants have been seen ahead of the upcoming season, which will air sometime in April
Speaking about his love of cooking, Brent added: ‘I’m a hundred per cent self-taught cook. I found a passion that I didn’t know was there.’
Another contestant, Kishwar, revealed she comes ‘from a big family of cooks’, and loves using recipes passed down to her from previous generations.
‘The Bengali cuisine that I carry with me has been passed down from generation to generation,’ she said.
Line-up: Filming scenes for the upcoming series, the contestants were spotted lining up on the street outside as they waited to enter a building
Natural talent: One contestant, Brent, revealed he’s a self-taught cook, having grown up on a steady diet of meat-and-three-veg
But Kishwar admitted she tries to put her own spin on it: ‘I’ve always taken a little creative license with it.’
Meanwhile, Elise described herself as a ‘feeder’, and said she aims to please with her cooking.
‘I want to make people happy. I want to make things beautiful. My love language is food,’ she said.
Challenge: Three contestants walked alongside one another as they arrived to the warehouse ahead of filming
Making friends: The participants seemed to have forged a close bond, happily chatting as they stood together in a group
Keeping it in the family: Another contestant, Kishwar, revealed she comes ‘from a big family of cooks’, and loves using recipes passed down to her from previous generations
And this year’s MasterChef may have a new dessert queen in the form of Therese, who said her passion for sweet things is rivaled only by Willy Wonka.
‘It makes me so happy when I cook. It just transports me to Willy Wonka wonderland,’ she confessed.
‘When it comes to desserts I am self-taught. I do weird and wacky desserts. That’s something I love to do.’
‘The Bengali cuisine that I carry with me has been passed down from generation to generation,’ said new contestant Kishwar
They’re back: Judges Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo, and Andy Allen (all pictured) were also spotted arriving to the Melbourne venue
Get happy: Fellow contestant Elise described herself as a ‘feeder’, and said she aims to please with her cooking
Although she’s part Taiwanese, part Burmese and part Chinese, Therese said she has a passion for cooking French food.
Meanwhile, Minoli revealed she lost her sense of taste at the age of 31, but developed a newfound love and appreciation for cooking once it returned.
‘It’s given me a whole new insight into flavour and an understanding of food that I never had before,’ she admitted.
Sweet treat: This year’s MasterChef may have a new dessert queen in the form of Therese, who said her passion for sweet things is rivaled only by Willy Wonka
Competition: The show’s contestants appeared stressed as they completed the seemingly difficult task
Too much pressure? One aspiring chef broke down in tears as she left the building during an emotional scene
Responding to a fan on Instagram recently, judge Jock Zonfrillo revealed the upcoming season will premiere ‘around Easter’.
‘The amount of heart and soul and drive is exceptional this year,’ fellow judge Melissa Leong teased in the trailer, while Andy Allen added, ‘They all have a unique story.’
Speaking of the contestants, Jock, 44, said: ‘They need to follow their hearts. They need to stay true to themselves. When someone follows their dreams, you start to see something magical happen.’
Confident: Two participants looked calm and relaxed as they strolled along the footpath, with both smiling happily
‘It makes me so happy when I cook. It just transports me to Willy Wonka wonderland,’ confessed Therese
Ooh la la: Although she’s part Taiwanese, part Burmese and part Chinese, Therese said she has a passion for cooking French food
Speaking to Who at the 2020 AACTA Awards in November last year, Andy, 32, said this year’s contestants are set to serve up ‘the best food’.
‘I think we’re very short into the season but if these guys are cooking like this now, imagine what they’re going to be doing in 60 episodes. It’s crazy so we’re excited with that,’ he said at the time.
He added: ‘They’re raw, they’re very passionate, they’re very willing to learn and I think that’s what I think excites us the most. It’s going to be a really good season.’
Getting close: Two contestants were also spotted holding hands as they stood outside, but it’s unclear whether they knew each other prior to filming
Life lessons: Minoli revealed she lost her sense of taste at the age of 31, but developed a newfound love and appreciation for cooking once it returned
Filming scenes for the upcoming series, the contestants were spotted lining up on the street outside as they waited to enter a building.
The MasterChef hopefuls seemed to have forged a close bond, happily chatting as they stood together in a group.
They were dressed casually, and many were wearing their MasterChef aprons as they arrived to the bakery.
Jokers: Two male contestants were spotted fooling around as they entertained their fellow competitors while waiting to film
On friendly terms: The new stars giggles and laughed as they chatted to one another, with one man cradling his friend’s cheek
Coming soon: Responding to a fan on Instagram recently, judge Jock Zonfrillo revealed the upcoming season will premiere ‘around Easter’
Two contestants were also spotted holding hands as they stood outside, but it’s unclear whether they knew each other prior to filming.
Moments later, one aspiring chef broke down in tears as she left the building.
Judges Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo, and Andy Allen were also spotted arriving to the Melbourne venue.
‘They need to follow their hearts. They need to stay true to themselves. When someone follows their dreams, you start to see something magical happen,’ Jock said of the contestants
Raw talent: Speaking to Who at the 2020 AACTA Awards in November last year, Andy, 32, said this year’s contestants are set to serve up ‘the best food’
‘They’re raw, they’re very passionate, they’re very willing to learn and I think that’s what I think excites us the most. It’s going to be a really good season,’ said Andy
Last year, fans saw the new judges replace Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston.
Channel 10 released a new trailer for the upcoming series at the end of February.
Despite having cooks who are not industry trained, Jock said the dishes that are served up on the new season are beyond restaurant quality.
Checking in: The show’s contestants were spotted arriving at the building in a steady stream as they prepared to film
Behind the scenes: One female contestant was seen trailing behind a female crew member, who wore a black T-shirt printed with the MasterChef logo
Friendly competition: The new cast appear to have forged close friendships with each other, chatting as they walked outside
‘While they may well be home cooks, as the season is progressing we’re seeing dishes that I’d be proud to have on my menu,’ he said in a trailer for the show.
Meanwhile, Andy said: ‘2020 was a year where people have really gone, “What am I doing with my life?” And I think that has brought these contestants to this place.’
‘People have decided and realised, if not now, when?’ added Melissa, 38.
Why so serious? One female contestant appeared serious as she emerged from the building with her white apron around her waist
Coming out: The show’s contestants were spotted filing outside from underneath a roller door after an intense day of filming
In the video, Jock went on to reveal that the decision to join MasterChef was a make or break situation for many of the contestants.
‘They’re at a stage in their life where they know what they want to do. They’ve turned their life upside down to do this,’ he explained
MasterChef Australia returns to Channel 10 around April
Successful: MasterChef has proved to be a runaway ratings success over the past years, and this year looks set to do the same