Viaplay Serves Up Celebrity MasterChef as Next Dutch Local Production

3 March, 2022

Viaplay will bring the world-famous reality format Celebrity MasterChef to the Netherlands for the first time starting this autumn. The 12-episode first season, produced by SimpelZodiak, a Banijay Benelux company, sees 10 Dutch personalities taking on a series of culinary challenges in front of an all-star jury and competing to become the next Celebrity MasterChef. Viaplay launched in the Netherlands on 1 March with a unique combination of original productions, international films and series, kids content and premium live sports.

 

The Celebrity MasterChef jury consists of Soenil ‘The Spicy Chef’ Bahadoer, founder of the renowned De Lindehof restaurant, which received its second Michelin star in 2014; Angélique Schmeinck, one of only two female Dutch Mastercooks (the most country’s most prestigious culinary title) and head chef for 12 years at the Michelin-starred De Kromme Dissel; and Joël Broekaert, a well-known food critic, columnist and TV host.

 

The show’s 10 celebrity contestants will be announced shortly.

 

Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group Chief Content Officer: “High-quality local productions are a key focus for Viaplay in all our markets. Viewers everywhere have been enjoying the famous MasterChef format and its spin-offs for over 30 years, and Celebrity Masterchef will be an ideal addition to Viaplay’s fantastic menu in the Netherlands.”

 

Celebrity MasterChef is produced by SimpelZodiak (Expeditie Robinson; Hunted; Ik Vertrek) and by Martijn de Bruin for Viaplay.

 

Created by Franc Roddam, MasterChef has been named ‘Most Successful Cookery Television Format’ by Guinness World Records and the most successful format ever by The WIT. First aired in the UK in 1990, 49 series were produced in 33 territories in 2021. The MasterChef format and finished programmes are represented internationally by Banijay. Viaplay has produced MasterChef in Denmark since 2011.

 

In January, Viaplay announced Dragons’ Den, the globally successful show that gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors, as its first original production in the Netherlands.