MasterChef is a competitive cooking show television format created by Franc Roddam, which originated with the British version in July 1990. The show aims to discover the culinary talent of chefs of varying skill levels, through a series of cooking challenges, watched over by various acclaimed food critics and chefs.
Dave Ross commissioned the show for the BBC and gave it the name; he had already produced Masterteam, a quiz show hosted by Angela Rippon, and worked on the long-running Mastermind, and so the name was a continuation of that. The format was revived and updated for the BBC in February 2005 by executive producers Roddam and John Silver with series producer Karen Ross.
The revived format is sold internationally by Banijay. Its first international adaptation was MasterChef Australia, which began in 2009. The show has since been adapted in several other countries.
Format The show's format has been exported around the world under the same MasterChef logo, and is now produced in more than 50 countries and airs in over 200 territories. In 2017, Guinness World Records officially recognised it as the world's most successful cookery television format.
The format has appeared most often in four major versions: the main MasterChef series, MasterChef: The Professionals for professional working chefs, Celebrity MasterChef featuring celebrities as the contestants, and Junior MasterChef, a version created and adapted for children, which was first developed in 1994 and has also expanded to other countries in recent years.
Despite the four major versions, in 2012, Australia created the fifth version called MasterChef All-Stars, for former contestants to raise money for charity. In 2018, Ukraine created MasterChef Teens, for teenage contestants. In 2019, Brazil created MasterChef: Para Tudo (MasterChef: Stop Everything), a TV show featuring interviews with judges and former contestants, plus recipes and memes, presented by Ana Paula Padrão. In Brazil, MasterChef All-Stars was titled MasterChef: A Revanche (MasterChef: The Rematch), being released in 2019 and featuring former contestants who did not win the competition before. In 2022, Brazil created MasterChef +, for senior contestants over 60 years old. In 2023, Australia created MasterChef: Dessert Masters, dedicated for confectionery and patissiere.
, MasterChef Australia was the most watched television series in Australia, with the season 2 finale being the third most watched show in Australian television history. MasterChef Australia also won the award for 'Most Popular Reality Program' at the 2010 Logie Awards. Many other countries also broadcast the Australian version, either dubbed or with subtitles in the local language.
In 2018, the mobile game developer Animoca secured the licence to make MasterChef games.
International versions Current, previous and upcoming versions include: Currently airing franchise Franchise no longer in production
Country/Region NamePresenter(s)JudgesNetworkPremiere / Air datesMasterChef AlbaniaManjola Merlika Sokol PrengaRenato MekolliGëzim Musliaka Fundim Gjepali Top Channel8 March – 7 June 2014 15 November 2014 – 14 February 2015 18 September 2015 – 1 January 2016 MasterChef Junior AlbaniaRedjan Mulla Sokol PrengaXheraldina VulaJulian ZguroRTSH27 March – 12 June 2018 MasterChef ArgentinaMariano Peluffo Wanda Nara Donato de SantisGermán MartiteguiChristophe Krywonis Damián Betular Telefe6 April – 27 July 20148 April – 26 August 201520 March – 6 August 2023MasterChef JuniorMariano PeluffoDonato de SantisGermán MartiteguiChristophe Krywonis7 July – 2 September 201525 September 2015 – 8 January 2016MasterChef CelebritySantiago del MoroDonato de SantisGermán MartiteguiDamián Betular5 October 2020 – 18 January 202122 February – 24 June 2021 AsiaMasterChef Asia No presenterSusur LeeBruno MenardAudra MorriceLifetime 3 September – 10 December 2015 Edward LeePichaya SoontornyanakijKelvin Cheung TLC Southeast Asia22 September 2026 – presentMasterChef AustraliaSarah Wilson Gary Mehigan George Calombaris Matt Preston Andy Allen Melissa Leong Jock Zonfrillo † Poh Ling Yeow Jean-Christophe Novelli Sofia Levin Gary Mehigan George Calombaris Matt Preston Donna Hay Matt Moran Andy Allen Melissa Leong Jock Zonfrillo † Poh Ling Yeow Jean-Christophe Novelli Sofia Levin Network Ten27 April – 19 July 2009
19 April – 25 July 2010
1 May – 7 August 2011
6 May – 25 July 2012
2 June – 1 September 2013
5 May – 28 July 2014
5 May – 27 July 2015
1 May – 26 July 2016
1 May – 24 July 2017
7 May – 31 July 2018
29 April – 23 July 2019
13 April – 20 July 2020
19 April – 13 July 2021
18 April – 12 July 2022
7 May – 16 July 2023
22 April – 16 July 2024
28 April – 12 August 2025
19 April – 9 August 2026Celebrity MasterChef AustraliaGeorge Calombaris Gary Mehigan Andy Allen Melissa Leong Jock Zonfrillo † Gary Mehigan George Calombaris Matt Preston Andy Allen Melissa Leong Jock Zonfrillo † 30 September – 25 November 2009
10 October – 22 November 2021Junior MasterChef AustraliaGary Mehigan George Calombaris Matt Preston Andy Allen Melissa Leong Jock Zonfrillo Anna Gare Gary Mehigan George Calombaris Matt Preston Matt Moran Andy Allen Melissa Leong Jock Zonfrillo 12 September – 15 November 2010
25 September – 23 November 2011
11 October – 9 November 2020MasterChef Australia All-StarsGeorge CalombarisGary MehiganGary MehiganGeorge CalombarisMatt Preston26 July – 19 August 2012MasterChef Australia: The ProfessionalsMarco Pierre WhiteMatt PrestonMarco Pierre WhiteMatt Preston20 January – 17 March 2013Dessert MastersMelissa LeongAmaury GuichonMelissa LeongAmaury Guichon12 November – 28 November 2023 14 October – 24 November 2024 ()MasterChef BelgiumDina Tersago No host Wout Bru Stéphane Buyens Jean-Paul Perez Kenny Bernaerts VTM28 June – 29 July 20104 July – 18 August 20112 July – 23 August 2012Celebrity MasterChef VlaanderenNo hostNick BrilInge WaelesMichaël RewersPlay44 September – 11 October 20234 March – 10 April 2024MasterChef BoliviaAnabel AngusMarcos GonzálezCoral AyoroaMarko BonifazUnitel11 July – 2 October 202217 July – 9 October 2023MasterChef Celebrity Bolivia9 June – 15 August 2026