Screentime Shinawil is currently in pre-production with an Irish version of reality TV series, ‘MasterChef’. The show’s series producer and director is Lynda McQuaid (Fame: The Musical) and the series is set to shoot around Ireland this summer.
The series will comprise of an unconfirmed number of 52 minute episodes and will see 16 contestants tasked with cooking a gourmet, three-course meal in under two hours. The winner of each of these will progress through heats until Ireland’s ‘Masterchef’ is crowned at the end of the series with a prize of €25,000.
Commissioned by RTÉ Lifestyle’s Gráinne McAleer (The Afternoon Show), the Irish format of the show will be executive produced by Screentime ShinAwil’s Larry Bass (The Apprentice) and the show’s onscreen judges have been confirmed as Michelin-starred chef, Dylan McGrath and top restaurateur Nick Munier.
Dylan McGrath commented on the upcoming series, saying: ”MasterChef Ireland is such a great opportunity to show off the culinary talent that exists in Ireland at an amateur level, and to showcase the Irish produce that we have. Although we have a small population I’m absolutely confident that we can compete at an international level.”
The ‘Masterchef’ format, originally created by Franc Roddam (executive producer, Canterbury Tales) for the BBC now has formats Croatia, the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and Greece amongst many others.
The Irish format of the series is currently inviting applicants. Those who submit to take part will go through a number of rounds to get to the audition stage of the competition where they will be competing against some of the best amateur cooks in the country to gain a place on the series. For more information about ‘MasterChef’ participation applications visit www.rte.ie/masterchef The application deadline is April 27th, 2011. ‘Masterchef’ will broadcast in the Autumn on RTÉ One.
