Updated 2025

A post on MasterChef? Seriously? I thought why not, since for those who – like me – are a tad addicted to the show, it’s a subject of many conversations and gossip. I love a good natter about the latest and greatest of the popular reality show.

And I confess, I have watched many series in the last few years. Here’s my take on some of the different countries’ versions I have been able to watch. Those not below I have not been able to access (eg India which I know is massively popular too). They are not available on UK tv or streaming services, sadly!

The order below is in my preference from the least to the most, and I had a bit of trouble picking the top spot for reason you’ll see below.

Read on, fans!

South Africa

I had only ever watched one series of the MasterChef South Africa edition; too long and for me very dull. I had found the judges not particularly appealing nor friendly. The most interesting thing for me was watching a country I have never visited but that was about it. I struggled with finishing the series and woved never to watch it again, but after a few years’ break it returned last year, with new judges (two female!) so I will seek it out. Past seasons are available on Amazon Prime and hopefully the most recent one soon on U.

New Zealand

Oh, this had been another extremely long and not particularly fun edition to watch (I think I watched series 4), until it also came back a couple of years ago with the 7th edition. Similarly to South Africa, I loved watching the scenery of a country I know very little of, but have close friends in and the most recent edition of MasterChef New Zealand, available on U in the UK, it’s very good.

Judges are all new, and include the really lovely and gorgeous Nadia Lim (previous winner and possibly my favourite MC female judge ever), and two kiwi chefs, Vaughan Mabee and Michael Dearth. It’s filmed in an incredible and rural location and has a lot of maori contestants and indigenous ingredients, so it’s truly a culinary discover of New Zealand.

It’s not too long, and the challenges are pretty good, and it’s really interesting to see the use of ingredients we have never even heard of here in Europe!

United States

Another short lived series for me; I thought i’d give this a go, and didn’t enjoy much. Not boring like South Africa, but really horrible judges, including our very own Gordon Ramsay swearing with his usual attitude. While Gordon stays on, other judges come and go; one of the regulars is Bastianich, formerly judge on MasterChef Italia. He’s actually the best of the lot.

Moreover, I did not like the challenges nor the contenstants’ food. Done and dusted for me. This also is on Amazon Prime with spin offs such as Junior MasterChef USA. No thanks.

Italia

Uh, my home country. I usually watch some episodes when it is on (on Sky) while I am visiting home. It started in 2011 and it’s extremely popular but I have never liked it. Ok let me clarify. It is not dull like some past editions of NZ or SA. MasterChef Italia is, similarly to the USA one, pretty heated and has a good amount of swearing. And the judges are nasty; proper nasty. The current ones are Bruno Barbieri, 3 star chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo and british based chef Locatelli.

While it is entertaining, and I am indeed following the current series from here in the UK too (bless the VPN), I cannot get over how rude the judges are. The opposite of encouraging and helpful. Some of the things they say on MasterChef Italia, they’d not go past Ofcom here in the UK (“go back to your station or I am going to kick your ass all the way to Milano”).

Watching tall, huge Cannavacciuolo pick up a tiny Vietnamese contestant – literally lifting her off the ground in his arms – was cringey. The contestants all but backstab each other, celebrate when someone is eliminated, are petty, jealous, and generally nasty; the swearing is vile and constant.

Entertainment and trashy at its best, well done Italian TV

Singapore

A relatively newcomer to the MasterChef world, the Singaporean edition started in 2018; when I saw it on Amazon Prime and knew I had to watch it, I love the city and the food! I also really enjoyed the series. I did not know the judges, and later figured out one of them (Audra Morrice) had been a finalist on a past series of the Australian MasterChef.

The series isn’t too long, but I loved the approach to showcase the most iconic Singaporean dishes, so for a foreigner like me, was fascinating. I think there’s been some controversy around series 1 (I guess it does often happen), but I really enjoyed watching. I am looking forward to further series!

United Kingdom

The first series I ever came across, before on demand streaming apps; I did get into this a little later than most people, at least the current format which picked up from the original version in 2008. I started watching in 2011 and that was it; I was hooked. The UK series isn’t too long, and it’s very straightforward. It mostly focuses on the cooking, and leaves little to drama or personal stories.

While I am not particularly keen on the current judges, and have changed from initially liking John Torode more (nope and those skinny trousers! Nope nope) to not minding Greg Wallace too much, to welcoming the recent news that from next season the judges will be the fiery, food critic Grace Dent and the wonderful, one time MC Professional judge, chef Hannah Haugh. What happened to the two before, well if you haven’t heard, you can google it but it’s not pretty.

In the UK I also always watch and, I actually much more enjoy, the spin off for Professional contestants (where chefs such asmy friend Danilo Cortellini and Adam Handling have emerged from) with professional judges (Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti and from next season, chef Matt Tebutt to replace fallen from grace Greg Wallace). Some seasons of the Celebrity version (really depends who’s on it!) have also been quite fun, so let’s see who will be presenting those too.

Australia

And so we come to possibly the most worldwide popular series of all, the mighty MasterChef Australia. It started in 2009 and has become a huge phemomenon, with many of the top contestants turned into famous chefs, pastry chefs, restaurant owners famous all over.

So where do I begin. I thoroughly enjoy watching the australian version, yet each series is over 60 episodes long. That takes committment! It’s never ending. You feel like you get old watching it; and you then feel like you so know the contestants like they are your friends (I may or may not be conversing with Tessa on Instagram). The challenges are incredible and super human, and the pantry is a full supermarket that, when I hear John Torode tell the UK contestants they have ‘a full larder’ to chose from I want to weep on how ridiculous it looks in comparison. The food the contestant produce is unbelievable and on a par with what the Professionals dish out on MasterChef UK.

The beginning

The first 10 seasons had the same judges, who left for reasons unclear 3 years ago; it seems they couldn’t agreen on a pay deal, but it mostly seems one of them (George Calombaris) had been retaining staff tips and underpaying them. Who knows.

I guess what I didn’t fully like was the judges. I never warmed to the initial ones, only liking Gary Meagan; I found them overly keen, sometimes sickly sweet (oh the times Georges consoled crying contestants giving them a pep talk) and hated, really hated, watching them ‘tasting’ the dishes, looking into space as if they’re writing poetry. The most awful was Matt Preston, with his heeled shoes, cravattes and sense of self pomposity.

Middle era

The second batch of judges were frankly, not hugely better in my personal liking scale. Andy was ok, but he’s forever a contestant in my eyes; Melissa often wore great granny clothes (she’s gorgeous! why, woman?) and had an annoying posture ( I know, sorry, what am I focusing on) and gushed waaaay too much, all the time and oh woman, why are you always crying when someone cooks something about their own heritage (Aldo cooking from his nonna is unbearable)?? Jock, I did like him – he was handsome and had great dress sense (Melissa, Andy, take a bow) but he could also be over the top (whistling!). It was a shock when he passed away, and a major loss not only for the show but for the culinary world overall.

The new era

Andy remained as a judge, despite being very open about how his fellow judge’s loss affected him. Melissa moved on, thankfully and in 2024 the show came back with a panel of 4 judges! One was Po Ling Yeow, former double contestat who, always in my view, has really made the role her own: she’s witty, fun, and light hearted and knows very well what it means to be a contestant.

The other female judge is little known (outside of Oz anyway) food blogger and critic Sofia Levin which actually turns out to be a lovely and sympathetic judge (and a beautiful woman). I ended up warming to Andy as well as the connection between him and the two ladies is seemingly fantastic.

Finally, the one I think it’s really the odd one out: renowned French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. I don’t see what what he’s doing here, and it just feels like a really crowded panel with 4 people tasting and often, an extra guest judge. He just doesn’t fit in with the others in my view. Superfluous.

Having been judged myself by chef Novelli, I feel I have a personal connection and I think he should have stayed at Culinary Genius – where is Shannon Bennet when you need him??

In the UK you can watch past series on Amazon Prime and most recent ones on U.

MasterChef Australia: Dessert Masters

Technically not MasterChef.. or is it? It’s filmed in the same studio as the main Australia show, albeit turned pink for the occasion. It has Melissa Leong (yep her again) flanked by automaton french patisserie online ‘phenomenon’ Amaury Guichon. Dress sense comes into play again, with Melissa the usual flamboyant style and Amaury wearing the tightest white shirts to show off his biceps and odd haircut. I enjoyed watching the first series, and it’s interesting to see a lot of familiar faces, both past contestant of the main show as well as guest chefs who, usually on the judging side, are now on the opposite end. Recommended. Series 1 and 2 of Dessert Masters are on U.

Canada

So we come to my favourite of all, the Canadian MasterChef. I stumbled upon the series on Amazon Prime after giving a go to other countries, and that was it. I immediately loved the judges and the chemistry they seem to have. Michael Bonacini is of italian descent, Claudio Aprile is Uruguayan and Alvin Leung’s heritage is from Hong Kong.

Their style of judging complements each other; the challenges are great and the series, while longer than the british one, is way shorter than the neverending australian series. My favourite of all, and I am gutted it stopped with the 2019 series; recent announcement of a new series coming up has made me very happy!

In conclusion

Have you watched the programme? Do you recommend any other series? What do you think and… who’s your favourite contestant of all? Let me know in the comments!