MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites pack their bags for Tasmania

Tasmania’s amazing culinary delights are set to take centre stage with MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites filming a series of episodes on the apple isle.

Shooting has commenced at various picturesque locations across Tasmania with episodes to air later this season.

Judges Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong, and Andy Allen will be putting the remaining contestants’ cooking skills to the test, while showcasing the incomparable fresh produce Tassie has to offer.

Judge Melissa Leong said, “Tasmania is home to some of the most dramatic and compelling landscapes in Australia. It’s also a hotbed for spectacular food and wine, so we’re thrilled we have this opportunity to explore this wild, dynamic state.”

CEO of Tourism Tasmania John Fitzgerald said, “Tourism Tasmania is delighted to support the production of the MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites episodes in Tasmania that will showcase our state’s premium food and beverage offerings on a national stage.” 

Mediaweek caught up with Andy Allen ahead of the current season, and asked him about what worked so well about the Fans & Favourites format.

“I’ve noticed that a couple of other reality shows have done it and I was wondering how it was going to work in the MasterChef kitchen, but it worked instantly. It was so crazy to see. When you play sport and play the person who is your biggest opponent or better than you, you just instantly rise to that occasion and that happened with these favourites who came to the kitchen. They’re around people that are cooking for Jock, Mel and myself at such a high level and they just learn from that. It’s very different when you’ve got 24 amateurs, and all they can really learn from is when Jock, Mel, and I give them their feedback. Whereas if you are constantly around greatness, you just instantly going to get better. That happens literally in the first week.”

See More: MasterChef Australia: Andy Allen on how returning cooks changed the recipe

MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites in Tasmania. Coming soon to 10 and 10 Play on demand.