Season 1
Junior MasterChef Australia is an Australian competitive cooking game show devised as a spin-off from MasterChef Australia and based on the original British show of the same name created by Franc Roddam, in which child chefs (aged 8-12) compete in weekly challenges which test their food knowledge and preparation skills until a winner is crowned as the "Junior MasterChef".
The series aired in Australia on Network Ten from 12 September, 2010 to 23 November, 2011. There are 37 hour-long episodes in two seasons.
Junior MasterChef Australia premiered in South Africa on M-Net (simulcast in HD) on Thursday 27 September 2012, at 18h00. It moved to M-Net Series Reality for the second season in 2013 and later aired on M-Net Series Zone (from Season 2). See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 1 aired on M-Net from 27 September to 25 October, 2012. New episodes broadcast from Mondays to Thursdays at 18h00. There are 17 episodes in the first season.
Season 1
From 5,500 young cooks who auditioned from around Australia, 50 amazing young chefs made it through for a chance to become one of the Top 12 in Junior MasterChef Australia.
With the challenges being as big as what their older counterparts faced; the competition level among these Junior MasterChefs is just as high as they face Pressure and Invention Tests plus Team Challenges – all for precious award points from the judges.
After each challenge, the Top 12 contestants are awarded points for their plated piece. The best dish of the challenge will earn 6 points, second will get 4 points and third will get 2 points.
Everyone else who plated up a dish will receive 1 point. Bonus points may be awarded at the judges' discretion.
Like MasterChef Australia, the Junior contestants will be under the watchful eye of judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Matt Preston and newcomer to the table – Anna Gare.
Under their guidance, the Junior MasterChefs will learn, grow and take their skills to the next level and maybe even become the very first Junior MasterChef Australia.
Prepare to be amazed!
Seasons
Note: the show moved from M-Net to M-Net Series Reality for Season 2. The first season did not air on M-Net Series Zone.
Season 1 (17 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 27 Sep 2012 | Finale: 25 Oct 2012 | Mon-Thu, 18h00
Season 2 (20 episodes)
Channel: MS Reality | Premiere: 9 Jul 2013 | Finale: 19 Nov 2013 | Tue, 20h30
Channel: MS Zone | Premiere: 11 Jan 2014 | Finale: 24 May 2014 | Sat, 18h30