Ratings show we’ve rekindled our love for MasterChef - this is why.
Our renewed love for MasterChef is no accident. How producers, and coronavirus, has saved the show’s ratings and inspired us to cook at home again.
delicious SA
Don't miss out on the headlines from delicious SA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TAKE three new judges, 24 former contestants and a couple months of home isolation, and you’ve got the recipe for success that is this year’s MasterChef Australia.
Ratings for the 2020 season reveal viewers have rekindled their love of the reality TV cooking competition, which had waned over the past four years.
Ten is averaging just over one million viewers per episode this year to date, compared with 710,000 in 2019.
Its resurrection follows the shock exit of the three original judges, George Calombaris, George Mehigan and Matt Preston, at the end of last year.
With declining viewer numbers and a blank slate, the 12th season was always going to be the ultimate test for Ten.
The network found three new judges in Adelaide’s Jock Zonfrillo, food writer Melissa Leong and former winner and chef Andy Allen.
To balance those fresh faces, producers reeled in 24 familiar ones – all former contestants competing in the “Back to Win” format.
They included five favourite South Australian contestants – Poh Ling Yeow, Callum Hann, Laura Sharrad, Tracy Collins and Rose Adam.
Other tweaks included changes to the immunity challenge (no more individual cook-offs with restaurant chefs), and airtime given to off-the-cuff interactions between contestants.
MasterChef is enjoying the best numbers since 2015, when an average of 1.17 million viewers tuned in. In a statement, Network 10 said it had been an “extraordinary season”.
But there is one crucial ingredient producers couldn’t have planned for.
Social commentator Bernard Salt said home isolation, forced by the coronavirus pandemic, meant people had been drawn to home lifestyle and cooking shows.
“Lockdown has turned the consumer mind inward, towards the home,” Mr Salt said.
“The family unit is contained; the income earners are living at home 24/7.
“Do that for a few months, and things like the vegie patch, home cooking, baking, that tribal preparing of food for the family, suddenly becomes important.
“I can very much see that MasterChef would appeal in those circumstances because you’re showcasing skills that are then put to immediate use.”
Tomorrow night’s elimination will reveal this year’s top six, at least two of whom will be South Australian.
Laura Sharrad has immunity, while Poh Ling Yeow and Callum Hann are fighting for a final spot.
The date for the grand finale is yet to be announced but producers will be hoping they can claw back the near two million viewers who tuned in for the final episode in 2015.