When the very first season of MasterChef Australia kicked off in 2009 it was a very different competition than what we see today — and I’m not just talking about the frequent use of hibachi grills.
Although the level of food created by the talented contestants has only become more and more complex each year, the behind the scenes living conditions for contestants have become significantly more relaxed, especially after COVID.
You see, in the early years, contestants like current judges Poh Ling Yeow and Andy Allen were all chucked together to live in one big ol’ house for the duration of filming. The kicker? They wouldn’t have access to their phones, devices or TV and were only permitted to contact their families once per week.
For those with families or businesses, it was a pretty huge sacrifice that could result in them being away from their loved ones and income for up to six months. However, producers believed it was important to see the contestants truly give the competition their all during their time on the show.
In a chat with TV Tonight, Andy has reflected on his time in the MasterChef competition and revealed why the big dogs decided to make things a bit more relaxed for the contestants behind the scenes.
“Being a 23-year-old bloke, I didn’t have really any responsibilities at that point. I didn’t have a mortgage, I didn’t have kids, I didn’t have a girlfriend, so being put under that situation got the best out of me,” he said.
“I know that this is different for everyone, but I’m just talking about my personal experience. It was like me and the competition. I had no distractions, and it got the best out of me.”
Luckily for Andy, the drive and focus the environment created saw him win the coveted MasterChef Australia trophy in 2012 — a very important stepping stone for the talented chef to become a judge years later.
According to Andy, the big shift in living conditions came after COVID hit, and they were trying to film the first Back To Win season.
“We had people like Laura Sharrad who had businesses in turmoil,” he said.
“There was so much unknown about what was happening to our businesses, while we continued filming, that it just didn’t feel right for them not to have access to their businesses. So it is a lot less intense, I suppose.
“But at the start of the competition, we really just drum into them: This is your chance. Whether it be your first, second or third time, make sure you make the most of this opportunity, because it does change your life, and you just want to make sure that you don’t take it for granted.”
Wise words, hey?
You can find out whether the latest bunch of returning contestants take Andy’s advice by tuning into season 17 of MasterChef Australia: Back to Win tonight at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10play.
