‘MasterChef 13’ or ‘MasterChef 12+1’ arrives on La 1 next Monday, March 31, with a very special season that will feature a culinary battle between several generations.
“As if it were a good recipe, the program enriches itself by combining the tradition, connectivity, diversity, and culinary creativity of the Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z. We will see how these generations understand and live gastronomy, without forgetting the talent, fun, humor, competitiveness, and passion for cooking,” highlighted María Eizaguirre, the Director of Communication and Participation. During the press conference, she also emphasized that “MasterChef changes lives and has become part of our country’s television imagery.” Miriam García Corrales, Director of Entertainment at TVE, assured that after 13 years, there will still be “surprises, emotions, humor, and a cast eager to put in the effort.”
Samantha, Pepe, and Jordi on set this Monday
Macarena Rey, CEO of Shine Iberia, stated that this edition is “the purest and most demanding because the contestants want to dedicate themselves to it. We’ve brought together four very different contestants, but they all represent excellence.” “This is the edition of generations. We have a casting team capable of discovering amazing personalities. And the challenges this year are, above all, solidarity-based,” she added. From the jury, Pepe Rodríguez believes the contestants are “wonderful” and that they “have come to learn and change their lives.” Jordi Cruz emphasized the work after 13 years: “We put a lot of passion into both our personal and professional families.” Samantha Vallejo-Nágera is particularly fond of the senior edition: “It’s my favorite. People with great passion for gastronomy and a strong desire to win.” Previous ‘MasterChef’ winners also attended the press conference. Carlos Maldonado, winner of the third season, shared how the program changed his life. “For me, it was a springboard where you can reach anything through hard work, it made me feel useful,” he explained. María Lo, winner of ‘MasterChef 10’, believes the program is “a really cool format where you learn a lot, and it offers endless possibilities.”
Eneko, María Lo, Ángela, and Carlos Maldonado shared how the show changed their lives
Ángela, winner of the latest edition, was overwhelmed remembering her experience: “A year ago I was competing, and now I’m opening my restaurant. When I first came here, I only thought about cooking, and then the door to communication opened for me. This is yet another demonstration that ‘MasterChef’ changes lives,” confirmed Eneko, winner of the 11th edition.
13 years of success
Year after year, thousands of applications continue to pour in for the culinary talent show produced by RTVE in collaboration with Shine Iberia (Banijay Iberia). In the latest selection process, Pepe Rodríguez, Samantha Vallejo-Nágera, and Jordi Cruz will evaluate the creations of 40 candidates passionate about cooking, who dream of wearing the white apron. Those who show potential but do not receive approval from all three judges will receive a gray apron and must face a final challenge. The jury will also have the secret collaboration of 3-Michelin-star chef Toño Pérez.
A moment from the press conference held this Monday on the ‘MasterChef’ set
Will the 75-year-old TikTok star, famous for her 1.50€ apple pie recipe, win ‘MasterChef 13’? Or will a police officer from the GEO, who discovered the talent show during an international mission, take the trophy? Perhaps it’s the chance for a lively law student and TikToker from a village with fewer than 500 inhabitants. Among the 40 candidates is also a priestess representing the goddess Tanit from Ibiza, who practices alchemy to transform being; a content creator from ‘MasterChef Junior USA’; a kundalini yoga teacher, massage therapist, and tantra facilitator; and a passionate ‘MasterChef’ fan from Donostia, who has auditioned six times and has collected four wooden spoons.
The winner will receive a 100,000-euro cash prize, the program’s trophy, the opportunity to publish their recipe book, and have their name engraved on the ‘MasterChef’ silver salad bowl. Additionally, the Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastián will award three prizes to the top three contestants. The winner will receive a Master’s degree in Cooking, Technique, and Product; the second-place finisher will receive a Master’s in Sweet Cooking and Restaurant Pastry; and the third-place finisher will earn a five-week Specialization Course. Aspiring chefs who stand out will be rewarded with culinary experiences and masterclasses from renowned chefs.
Surprising, committed, and 100% charitable challenges
‘MasterChef 13’ will be the most committed and charitable edition yet. There will be a tribute to the victims and those affected by the Dana storm, a charitable cook-off in support of the Plasencia Caritas Social Kitchen, and an event to raise awareness about the importance of adopting animals with the help of several shelters. Additionally, the teams will work at the Semillas hospitality school, a solidarity project led by chef Carlos Maldonado (Michelin-starred and winner of ‘MasterChef 3’) in Talavera de la Reina, where through hands-on training in a restaurant, he helps people at risk of social exclusion. The program will also stay linked to current gastronomic events: visiting Alicante, the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy 2025; hosting a cocktail event for national chefs at Madrid Fusión, Spain’s largest gastronomic event; and working in the elite kitchens of Disfrutar, named the Best Restaurant in the World according to the British ranking The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. For the first time in ‘MasterChef,’ one of the challenges will let the contestants form their teams, choose captains, dishes, and even the number of guests.
Melody, Marina Rivers, Pocholo, and Martín Berasategui as guests
The jury has prepared an edition filled with surprising guests, such as singer Melody, Spain’s Eurovision 2025 representative with the song ‘ESA DIVA,’ who will visit ‘MasterChef’ before heading to Basel (Switzerland). Celebrities like Inés Hernand, Marina Rivers, Cristina Cifuentes, Pocholo Martínez Bordiú, Eduardo Casanova, Los Morancos, David Bustamante, Boris Izaguirre, Mario Vaquerizo, Raquel Meroño, Toñi Moreno, Blanca Romero, Raquel Sánchez Silva, Silvia Abril, Anabel Alonso, and Bibiana Fernández will also make appearances, alongside previous ‘MasterChef’ winners like Ángela Gimeno, María Lo, and Aleix Puig. The show will be backed by some of Spain’s most renowned chefs: Toño Pérez (3 Michelin stars), Ángel León (3 Michelin stars), Eneko Atxa (3 Michelin stars), Quique Dacosta (3 Michelin stars), Joan Roca (3 Michelin stars), Andoni Luis Aduriz (2 Michelin stars), Ricard Camarena (2 Michelin stars), Bego Rodrigo (1 Michelin star), Jesús Segura (1 Michelin star), Andrea Tumbarello (2 Repsol Suns), Nino Redruello, and pastry chef Lluc Crusellas. The jury will also present chef Martín Berasategui, the Spanish chef with the most Michelin stars, with a special gift on his 25th visit to the show.
TikTok 2024 Award and MCW Challenge
The official ‘MasterChef’ Spain TikTok account (@mchef_es) began the year by winning the ‘Best Publisher’ award in the ‘Gastronomy and Travel’ category at the TikTok 2024 Awards. This solidifies the close relationship between the show and TikTok, bringing the program to an audience that consumes it in a very different way than through the television screen. Additionally, the show will expand in 2025 with one of its biggest innovations: ‘MasterChef World Challenge.’ The app will engage even more with its followers and new generations by launching a digital competition broadcast live on social media, where teams will be led by 8 of the country’s most influential content creators. The book Un paseo por Oriente (A Walk Through the East), the 40th title in the series, has just been released, offering a journey through the exquisite flavors of Asian cuisine. Fans can continue enjoying the show’s dishes at the MasterChef Restaurant, and children can join the MasterChef Camps. ‘MasterChef 13’ is sponsored by Bosch Home Appliances, Central Lechera Asturiana, and Zurich Insurance. It promises to be the most committed and charitable edition ever.