MasterChef South Africa, the popular culinary TV show, is making a comeback, with its fifth season set to air in June. After a decade of airing on pay broadcaster M-Net, the new season has found a new home in public broadcaster SABC. The local spin-off of the international hit series will now air on S3, with Primedia Studio securing the distribution rights.
Primedia Studios President Jan du Plessis expressed excitement about the collaboration, saying, “It’s an honour to collaborate with these formidable television content creators to extend MasterChef South Africa’s reach by inviting more Mzansi foodies and families to join us in the hottest kitchen on TV”. He added that the new season would cater to a broader audience while retaining the show’s signature elements.
Cape Town-based production company Homebrew Films will return to produce the new season. Entry for the new season will open at the end of the month, and the winner will stand a chance to win R1m. The previous seasons’ winners were Deena Naidoo (2012), Kamini Pather (2013), Roxi Wardman (2014), and Shawn Godfrey (2022).
The judges for the new season will be announced at a later stage, with previous judges including Zola Nene, Gregory Czarnecki, Justine Drake, Reuben Riffel, Pete Goffe-Wood, Benny Masekwameng, and Andrew Atkinson.
S3 Head of Local Content at SABC, Lala Tuku, expressed her enthusiasm for the addition of MasterChef South Africa to S3’s schedule, saying, “MasterChef South Africa will shine the spotlight on the country’s rich, diverse culture and cuisine whilst transforming the lives of contestants with culinary dreams”.