Hope to inspire home cooks in India with new season: ‘MasterChef Australia’ judge

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) “MasterChef Australia” (MCA) is back for a new season with the theme ‘Everybody is talking gourmet, everybody is talking MCA’. And Gary Mehigan, judge of the hugely popular TV show, says he is "aware of the huge fan following of the show in India” and hopes the forthcoming season can inspire more home cooks in the country.

The iconic culinary TV show is back with its eighth season premiering exclusively on Star World and Star World HD from May 9, read a statement.

The show was launched overseas on Sunday. Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston, accompanied by chef extraordinaire Marco Pierre White, Heston Blumenthal and Nigella Lawson, will be seen judging the forthcoming culinary extravaganza.

“I’m extremely proud to be associated with a show like 'MasterChef Australia' that, over the years, has become one of the best apprenticeships offered across the world. I am aware of the huge fan following the show enjoys in India and I’m hoping we can inspire even more home cooks in India with the new season,” Mehigan said.

Celebrated food writer and judge Preston also said that he is “humbled” by all the love coming from India to the show and its content.

Preston shared: “'MasterChef Australia' has created food connoisseurs over the world. To know that 'MasterChef Australia' has encouraged and motivated viewers across the world to not only cook better but also live better is a huge testimony to its popularity. Having visited India multiple times, I am elated and humbled at how popular the show and we are with fans. Here’s to another scintillating and inspiring season.”

Chef and judge Calombaris, known for his catchy phrases, added: “We are excited to see the level of creativity and skill that the new contestants bring to the table under the tutelage of our esteemed mentors this year. We are ready to boom-boom shake the room.”

The channels will create engaging content elements around the new season like ‘#SpeakGourmet’ that will comprise of short promos on the A-Z of food terminologies.

A spokesperson from the channel said: “The show has changed the way food is perceived in our country and the audience has come to love the concept and the judges. We are eagerly awaiting the new season and are certain audiences will be captivated by the contestants, food, judges and mentors.”

Nidhi Mahajan, an Indian who moved to Australia some years back along with her husband, is one of the first contestants to make it to the top 24.