Ms. Tanya Koivusalo reports

CTV ORDERS A SECOND HELPING OF HIT SERIES MASTERCHEF CANADA; CASTING NOW OPEN FOR SEASON 2; - TASTING TITANS MICHAEL BONACINI, ALVIN LEUNG, AND CLAUDIO APRILE RETURN AS JUDGES FOR SEASON 2; CANADIAN MASTERCHEF HOPEFULS CAN NOW APPLY ONLINE AT CTV.CA/MASTERCHEFCANADA; MASTERCHEF CANADA IS CANADA'S #1 NEW REALITY SERIES AND MOST-WATCHED CANADIAN SERIES, WINNING ITS TIMESLOT WITH AN AVERAGE AUDIENCE OF 1.7 MILLION VIEWERS

Canadians are hungry for more Masterchef Canada! BCE Inc.'s CTV has ordered a season 2 order for its hit culinary competition series Masterchef Canada for the 2014/2015 broadcast season. Currently airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and with two episodes remaining, season 1 of Masterchef Canada has a season-to-date average audience of 1.7 million viewers, making it the No. 1 new reality series of the season and among the top-three new programs on Canadian television over all this season. Consistently winning its time slot in Canada on Monday nights, Masterchef Canada is the most-watched Canadian series of the 2013/2014 broadcast season.

CTV also confirmed today its fan-favourite Canadian judges are back for a second helping: Michael Bonacini, renowned for his exacting taste and the refined creator of a high-end restaurant empire; Michelin-starred and wildly innovative enfant terrible, Alvin Leung; and celebrated champion of nuance and flavour, Claudio Aprile. The series will once again be produced by Proper Television, with Shine International as the worldwide distributor. Production on season 2 set to begin this fall.

Casting for season 2 is now open on CTV's Masterchef Canada website. Canadian home cooks have until 11:59 p.m. ET on July 13, 2014, to apply on-line. Interviews are by invitation only, and applicants are encouraged to apply early to meet producers when they are in their region. Casting will close with an open casting call in Toronto on July 12 to 13, 2014, with more details to come. Masterchef Canada is looking for passionate and talented home cooks who want to pursue a culinary dream.

"Even with the finale still to come in season 1, Canadian viewers have made it clear that they can't get enough Masterchef Canada," said Phil King, president -- CTV, sports and entertainment programming. "The dynamic challenges and intensity of the Masterchef format combined with a distinct Canadian flavour have made the show irresistible to viewers from coast to coast to coast."

Masterchef Canada provides an opportunity for Canadian amateur cooks to develop their culinary skills as they compete for the Masterchef Canada title. Following the traditional Masterchef format, Masterchef Canada's initial audition rounds consist of a number of home cooks from across the country presenting a food dish to the judges to gain one of the coveted semi-finalist spots. Competitors must be true amateurs who have a true passion for food and cooking. The semi-finalists then compete in challenges which test their food knowledge, cooking techniques and creativity. The most successful home cooks rise to the top through individual mystery box challenges, off-site team challenges and demanding and suspense-filled pressure tests, until the ultimate Canadian Masterchef is crowned.

The Masterchef Canada judges challenge everyday Canadians to improve upon their existing culinary skills, and to elevate the taste and presentation of their dishes to a professional level. The judges accept the responsibility of becoming mentors to the home cooks, and provide occasionally harsh but fair feedback in the amateur chefs' quest to become Canada's next Masterchef.

Season 1 of Masterchef Canada airs Mondays at 8 p.m./7 p.m. CT on CTV and CTV GO (visit CTV's webite to confirm local broadcast times). Past episodes are available on demand at CTV's website and the CTV GO app.

Masterchef is noted as one of the world's most successful prime-time entertainment formats. Now produced locally in over 40 countries, the series is watched in more than 200 territories worldwide.