MasterChef judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode have announced a significant change to the show's format, starting next week. For the first time in 18 years, contestants' dishes will be tasted piping hot instead of at room temperature.
The BBC1 cookery competition is introducing a new segment called the 'Audition Round', where contestants cook their signature dish unseen by the judges. Torode explained: "It's as if we were going to a restaurant. We don't see them cook and all we do is get to taste their food."
Torode described the change as "a revelation" and "far more exciting" than the usual format, adding that it gives contestants a chance to settle in and cook something they love. The judges emphasised that the show remains unscripted, keeping the series fresh even after 18 years.
In related news, MasterChef will move production to a new studio complex in Digbeth, Birmingham, from 2024 as part of the BBC's Across the UK plan. Producer Jon Swain said the move will "invigorate the programme" by tapping into one of the country's most diverse culinary scenes.
