As COVID-19 lockdowns continue to cause havoc to local productions, Channel 10 is forging ahead with its celebrity cooking show.
Channel 10’s much-touted celebrity edition of MasterChef Australia is set to start filming from July 15 for three weeks in Melbourne.
While the network is keeping its celebrity cast secret, production staff remain nervous about lockdowns in Melbourne, where the series is set to be filmed.
But the network is adamant filming will go ahead, telling TV Blackbox production will continue as planned “at this stage”.
Last year the cooking show was one of Australia’s biggest shows with the inclusion of old favourites as part of a stunt to introduce new judges Andy Allen, Jock Zonfrillo and Melissa Leong.
But fast forward to 2021 and viewers have deserted the program, which has seen a sharp decline.
10 is hoping the celebrity edition will breathe new life into the format after Junior MasterChef failed to excite viewers last year and was not renewed for 2021.
Production company Endemol Shine Australia has put out a casting call for the next series, indicating the format will continue using ‘regular’ people. There had been some speculation of another celebrity series next year.
The series set to begin filming on June 15 will air later this year on 10.
Deserted is pretty strong language it is competitive with every other reality show on-air right now and fairly comparitive with how it performed pre-Back to Win which was always going to rate higher as it was a stunt with a cast of returning faves + the curiosity factor of having new judges.
That said a celeb version is overkill…. let’s just have the one main season per year. Networks in AU know no restraint.