FOX has ordered a fourth season of the hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF, it was announced today by Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.

“We’re excited to be back for another season of MASTERCHEF,” said Gordon Ramsay, executive producer and judge on MASTERCHEF.  “I am continually amazed by the raw talent, passion and creativity of home cooks across America. The contestants raise the bar every season, and it’s an inspiration and exciting challenge for us.”    

“Gordon and the producers really took MASTERCHEF to a whole new level this year. The talent is absolutely fantastic, the competition is unbelievably intense, and it’s become one of the most compelling, heart-stopping hours on television,” said Darnell. “Over the course of three seasons, MASTERCHEF has inspired millions of home cooks around the country to pursue their dreams in the kitchen, and I can’t wait for the show to inspire even more people with another season on FOX.” 

Talented home cooks will once again have the chance to showcase their skill, knowledge and immense passion to turn their culinary dream into a reality. The hopefuls will be put through a series of intense challenges designed to test their palates and determination to prove they have what it takes to become America’s next MASTERCHEF and walk away with a life-changing grand prize.  

In its sizzling third season, MASTERCHEF is showing significant year-over-year ratings gains, up +8% among Adults 18-49 and up +9% in Total Viewers this summer. MASTERCHEF is one of this summer’s Top 10 programs among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and virtually all key men and women demos. 

In the next all-new episode airing tonight, Monday, July 23 (9:00-10:00 PM), the eight previously eliminated contestants return to the MASTERCHEF kitchen to earn a spot back in the competition. They must prove that they deserve a second chance by creating a stunning dish using only the mystery box ingredients. Later, only two home cooks will compete head-to-head for a chance to win back their apron and continue on the journey to become the next MASTERCHEF. 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 24 (9:00-10:00 PM), the judges challenge the remaining seven home cooks to use their imagination in the next mystery box challenge, which features live spot prawns. The hopefuls will have a very limited pantry and little time to create a standout dish that will impress the judges. The winner of the mystery box challenge will determine which savory ingredient the remaining hopefuls must incorporate into a dessert dish in an elimination round that will send one more contestant home.  

On Tuesday, Aug. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM), the countdown to the finale begins when MASTERCHEF returns with all-new episodes, in its new weekly time slot. Only two more weeks will remain before the next MASTERCHEF winner is named in the two-hour season finale event airing Tuesday, Sept. 4 (8:00-10:00 PM). 

MASTERCHEF is produced by Shine America and One Potato Two Potato and is based on the format created by Franc Roddam and Shine. Shine International handles distribution for the MASTERCHEF format. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers.  

“Like” MASTERCHEF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion at #masterchef.  

About Shine America:

Shine America is a world leader in producing and distributing compelling scripted and unscripted television and digital content, building brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Shine America is known for popular and award-winning original series including “The Biggest Loser,” “Tabatha Takes Over,” “Shear Genius” and “The Buried Life”; adaptations of Shine Group formats MASTERCHEF, “One Born Every Minute” and “Parental Control”; long-running scripted hits “The Office,” “Ugly Betty” and “The Tudors”; and more than 20 groundbreaking original online series on MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube premium channels and other platforms, many of these produced in partnership with global brands such as Toyota, Kraft Foods, Subway and Microsoft. Through its distribution arm, Shine International, Shine America distributes its extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries.  

About One Potato Two Potato:

One Potato Two Potato was co-founded by Gordon Ramsay and Optomen Television in 2008 to exclusively create and produce worldwide content for Ramsay ventures across all media including television, digital and publishing. Renowned for award-winning original programming, the company produces high-quality TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic, including HOTEL HELL, making its debut August 13; and the smash hit MASTERCHEF, both for FOX; as well as massive U.K. hit “Gordon Ramsay Behind Bars” and “Gordon’s Great Escape” for Channel 4 in the U.K.; and “My Kitchen,” for UKTV’s Good Food Channel. Ramsay’s groundbreaking and hugely popular Channel 4 series, “Cookalong LIVE,” aired as a special on FOX and has since become a successful format around the world. OPTP is also currently in development on several exciting unscripted and scripted projects, within and beyond the food genre, for network, cable and digital platforms in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. OPTP distributes its hugely popular TV programming and formats to more than 200 territories via Optomen International. The company became part of the All3Media group in 2010. Find out more about One Potato Two Potato at www.onepotatotwopotato.tv.