MasterChef is a Spanish competitive reality television cooking show based on the British television cooking game show of the same title. It premiered on La 1 on 10 April 2013. The show is, nowadays, presented by Pepe Rodríguez, Jordi Cruz and Samantha Vallejo-Nágera, who are also the judges of the competition.
History In the first season, only 15 people were chosen from among the 9,000 in the initial casting selection and competed for the title of MasterChef. The winner was given 100,000 euros, the opportunity to publish his own book of recipes, and the chance to attend the esteemed culinary school Le Cordon Bleu.
The initial selections began on February 4, 2013 in five areas of the country. All types of people came, including high-level executives, housewives, and construction workers. All of the candidates came together over their love of cooking. They had to be amateur cooks without culinary experience, but at the same time very talented.
The contestants competed against each other in individual challenges in the kitchen and also in group challenges outside of the set kitchen. The judges were Pepe Rodríguez, Jordi Cruz, and Samantha Vallejo-Nágera. The first season aired on La 1 of Televisión Española starting on April 10, 2013, and was hosted by Eva González.
In October 2013, MasterChef received the Ondas Awards for Best entertainment program in Spanish television.
Show format Caja misteriosa (Mystery Box Challenge). The contestants receive ingredients with which they have to make a dish according to the specifications of the judges. The contestants have a certain amount of time in order to do this. Once they are finished, the judges deliberate and the two to three best dishes determine who will be the captains in the following challenge. Prueba por equipos (Team Challenge). This challenge takes place outside of the kitchens of Masterchef and involves cooking for celebrities or other groups of people. The captains have to decide on the dishes that they are going to prepare and which of the other contestants will be on their team to help them. The losing team then faces off in the elimination round. Prueba de eliminación (Elimination Test). The winning team observes the losing team from the gallery from in the final challenge. The losing team has to cook the recipe chosen by the judges. The judges «deliberate» and the contestant that has made the «worst» dish is eliminated from the program. Prueba de presión (Pressure Test). This is the most difficult challenge. A celebrity chef visits the set and instructs the contestants on how to make his most famous dish. The contestants have to then recreate it. Reto creativo (Creative Test). The judges dictate which dish the contestants have to make.
First season (2013) Fifteen amateur chefs competed in different challenges cooking alone or in teams, both in the set kitchen and elsewhere. Throughout the first season of MasterChef, the contestants were visited by the best chefs in Spain who gave them exclusive cooking classes. These included Juan Mari Arzak, Pedro Subijana, Joan Roca, Paco Roncero, Dani García, Quique Dacosta, Eneko Atxa, and Andoni Luis Aduriz, among others. The finale featured Spanish chef Ferran Adrià, considered the best chef in the world, as one of the judges.
Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultJuan Manuel Sánchez25AlmeríaWaiterEva Micaela Millán32CórdobaBiologist, administrativeFabián León18PalmaPublicity studentJosé David Moliner33ValenciaComputer engineerMaribel Gil59BenicarlóHousewifeJosé Antonio Cerezo37AlcañizWelderClara Pérez Villalón22MadridEconomics studentMaría de la Fuente23AlicanteMake-up artistJosé Luis Asín58PamplonaChartered PoliceNoé Carmona31CórdobaRevenue managerSantiaga Muñoz52Ciudad RealHousewifeEfrén Álvarez23LugoFinance studentNati Sánchez42BilbaoAdministrativeJuanma Villar (†)48MadridEntrepreneurPaloma Ayensa22MadridLaw student
Second season (2014) During the finale of the first season of MasterChef, Eva González told viewers that the program would be renewed for a second season in May 2014, after MasterChef Junior. Starting in late October 2013 Televisión Española and Shine Iberia started casting for the second season. It premiered on April 9. During the week before, Radiotelevisión Española aired various cooking specials to lead up to the show.
Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultsVicky Pulgarín31PalmaUnemployed butcherMateo Sierra20HuescaArt History studentCristóbal Gómez33GranadaWaiterEmil Samper44BarcelonaAdvertising filmmakerLorena Lasanta39MálagaSound engineer, DJCristina Romero46MadridEntrepreneurMilagrosa Gavilán51JerezSaleswomanMarina Rodríguez46PalmaFormer direction assistantGonzalo Ribot48PalmaYoga teacherCelia Lastres27MadridRadiotherapy technicianJorge Cuéllar36SegoviaMolecular biology doctorMiguel Ángel Martínez41MadridFuneral directorChurra Costa71PontevedraHousewifeDaniel Díez34ValenciaArchitectLola Hidalgo22CórdobaEnvironmental sciences student
Third season (2015) Televisión Española and Shine Iberia started casting for the third season in December 2014. It premiered on April 7, 2015.
Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultCarlos Maldonado25Talavera de la ReinaFast food peddlerSally Stephanih Caballero31Ciudad RealOptical assistantAndrea Vicens22BarcelonaOdontology student, modelAntonio Romero26SevillaQuality control lab technicianKevin Bordas22TarragonaWaiter, modelLidia Folgar29PontevedraNutritionistMila Calabuig58ValenciaFootwear businesswomanFidel López36AlicanteWaiterPablo Pérez27ValenciaMartial arts championVíctor Mendicuti30MálagaAir freshener entrepreneurMireia Ruiz33MurciaNGO pedagogueEncina Rodríguez69GandíaRetireeRaquel García32PamplonaDental protesthistSara Martín27BarcelonaUnemployed teacherAlberto Sempere18ValenciaMedicine student
Fourth season (2016) Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultVirginia Naranjo39JerezHousewifeÁngel García31ValenciaDishwasherJosé Luis Losa (†)41AlbaceteIndustrial painterRocío Morcillo43BarcelonaEvents plannerRaquel Naranjo39JerezHousewifeDavid González20Castro UrdialesSport Science studentNatalia Khodzinskaya28BarcelonaFreelance journalist, modelPablo López39A CoruñaStructures' engineerRaquel Reichel Pardo33ArguisWaitress, forestry agentDaniel del Toro45HuelvaComputer scientistDania Gandul33SevillaTelemarketerJuan Rosillo20SevillaNursing studentEsmeralda Marcos45MassalfassarUnemployedSalva Linares31BusotAdministrative assistantEmilia Cuenca64MadridHousewifeAna Aniuska March22ValenciaLong-distance athlete, teacher
Fifth season (2017) Contestants ContestantsAgeProfessionHometownResultJorge Brazález28GranadaFormer footballerNathan Minguell27BarcelonaRoom chiefEdurne Trancho65TolosaRetireeElena Sánchez31SevillaPolice officerMiri Pérez-Cabrero23BarcelonaBloggerSilene Carvalho da Rocha43MadridBakerOdkhuu Erdenebayar30MongoliaFashion designerJosé María González31JerezBanderilleroLaila Kachán35ValenciaModelJosé Luis Castán45MadridEntrepreneurPaloma Garralda28MadridLawyerAdrián Gómez26TarragonaWaiterLorena Jiménez32BarcelonaMake-up artist & hairdresserSalva García50BarcelonaHairdresserPaula Martínez28MadridPsychologistJordi Plà50BarcelonaCommercial delegate
Sixth season (2018) The casting of the sixth season finished on January 15, 2018, 150 of the 23.000 participant was chosen to be challengers, in which only 15 will be candidates to win the program. It was released on April 22, 2018 in La 1. It will be the most demanding season.
Despite being pregnant, Eva González will not be replaced, although she will be absent after the 6th episode.
Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultMarta Verona23MadridNutrition studentKetty Fresneda28PontevedraDietitianOxana Retinskaia52GijónHousekeeperToni Carceller33ValenciaCommunity managerDaniel Escribano32MadridFirefighterSofía Janer22BarcelonaTourism studentVíctor Gonzalo34BarcelonaTelecoms' engineerJon Marín52BilbaoInnkeeperFabio Fernández-Amo35MadridFinancierJorge Esteban27GranadaJournalistMarina Arnal53ValenciaSaleswomanRamón Martín41MadridBus driverEva Sakay42BarcelonaSaleswomanLoli Rodríguez71SevillaRetireeFernando de Alvear42MadridWine cellar worker
Seventh season (2019) Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultsAleix Puig26BarcelonaFishmongerTeresa Abalde45A CoruñaPhotographerValentín García30MadridEntrepreneurAitana Ávila32BizkaiaHRCarlos Alba39SevillaBusinessmanSamira Fernández26BarcelonaStay-at-home momCarmen Alcoba29 CáceresShopgirlNatalia Martínez28 AsturiasGravestone designerGloria Morales36BadajozHousekeeperMarcos Moya37 La Pobla de VallbonaForensic locksmithJosecho Velasco73MadridRetired economistOsiris Florentino37ValenciaWaiterLaly Pascual51ÁvilaHousewifeAlicia Vallés42 BarcelonaIT saleswomanSara Muñoz24TarragonaMechanical engineerJeancha Baudin34MadridUnemployed
Eighth season (2020) The show begun on April 14, 2020. Almost 30,000 people attended the castings but only 50 went to the final phase where the judges decided which one attended the first task.
For the first time in the series, due to no eliminated contestant managing to cook a decent enough dish in the repechage episode, no one was brought back by the judges. Instead, they gave candidates eliminated in the last casting process a second chance to join the kitchens. Carlos won and entered the show.
Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultsAna Iglesias24MadridJewelry entrepreneurAndrés Andy García26MadridLawyerIván Mariñas39A CoruñaPersonal coachAlberto Gras31BarcelonaFutsal coachLuna Zacharias29LanzaroteYoga teacherJosé Mari Royo46PalmaEntrepreneur, musicianJuana Ferrer74SegoviaCommunity doorkeeperMichael Salazar50United StatesEnglish teacherTeresa Sanfeliú57BarcelonaEconomistCarlos García-Delgado41CádizTobacco commercialSara Lúa Barreiro33A CoruñaWedding store managerSonsoles Conde43BurgosPharmacistFidel Ministerio36BarcelonaMusicianSaray Carrillo27CórdobaSocial educatorRosa García49LeónAir Force CommanderMónica Longo48OviedoCleaner, waitressAdrienne Chaballe34SevillaMarketing directorSito Camacho38MadridMortuary employee
Ninth season (2021) In episode 6, two frontline workers that couldn't participate in the last casting stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic were given a second chance to enter the game as they'll battle for a white apron and the chance to enter the game. José beat Nando, and entered the kitchens.
Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultsArnau París32BoadaFaucet salesmanMaría Meri Rodas24CardedeuPhysiotherapist, medicine studentMaría Morales27TomellosoEvent plannerFran Martínez29CuencaWaiterOfelia Hentschel29Santiago de CompostelaHorse riding entrepreneurJosé Abellán34MurciaCardiologistToni de Pascual34PalmaEntrepreneur, poker playerAmelia Amelicious Platón23BarcelonaPharmacy StudentJiaping Ma35ChinaHead of business developmentDani Vallejo41GetxoGastronomy businessmanPepe37MadridMusicianNando Ortells31ValenciaEmergency nurseAlicia Fábrega43MadridMarketing directorVero Moreno35RotaCivil GuardÁlex Katib28BarcelonaSports promoterJosé María Montero18BadajozRestoration studentJesús Hornillos69BurgosRetired lawyer
Tenth season (2022) Contestants ContestantsAgeHometownProfessionResultsMaría Lo32CádizUnemployedVerónica Gómez de Liaño26SalamancaPublicistDavid Pascual38OviedoEntrepreneur, former porn actorAdrián Rejón28BizkaiaInstallation technicianPatricia Díaz32BarcelonaAdministrativeClaudia Castellví28GironaAdministrative Jokin Iriondo30GipuzkoaFinancial ManagerLuismi Regidor35GuadalajaraFirefighterYannick Boeykens28BelgiumSales coordinatorJulia González32MadridSommelierTeresa Jiménez-La Blanca33MadridRentierEva Díez29ValenciaPediatricianPaula Díaz23MadridAuxiliary nurseIván Chalabi38MadridCommercialGiraldo Carales33Cuba Former water poloist, modelBerto Alonso24SegoviaClerk
Eleventh season (2023) Contestants