CTV Orders Up a Third Course of Hit Culinary Series MASTERCHEF CANADA for 2015/2016 Season

### Casting is Now Open For Season 3 ###

â€" Gourmet gurus Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile return as judges â€"
â€" Home cooks can apply now at CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada â€"
â€" MASTERCHEF CANADA is a Top 20 show with total viewers, and a Top 15 show in all key demos this spring â€"
â€" With only five home cooks remaining, MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2 continues with all-new episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV â€"

To tweet this release:http://bmpr.ca/1zwLMeO

TORONTO, May 5, 2015 /CNW/ -Â As the timer runs out on the final three episodes of Season 2, CTV announced today an early Season 3 order for its hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF CANADA for the for the 2015/2016 broadcast season. Casting for home cooks is open now at CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada, and production is set to begin this fall in Toronto on a new 15-episode season from Proper Television. Esteemed Canadian judges Michael Bonacini (O&B restaurant empire), Alvin Leung (Bo Innovation in Hong Kong), and Claudio Aprile (Origin Restaurants) are set to return for Season 3 to again mentor and challenge everyday Canadians to help elevate their cooking and presentation to a professional level, as they cook to win a $100,000 cash prize and the title of MASTERCHEF CANADA.

Season 2 of MASTERCHEF CANADA remains the #1 Canadian series among the key A18-49 and A25-54 demos for the broadcast year to date, and has a season average of 1.6 million viewers. The culinary competition is a Top 20 show with total viewers and a Top 15 show in all key demos this spring.

"Canadian audiences have maintained a strong appetite for MASTERCHEF CANADA since it first debuted in 2014," said Phil King, President â€" CTV, Sports, an‎d Entertainment Programming. "We look forward to working with our talented partners at Proper Television on the third season of our homegrown version of the internationally recognized MASTERCHEF format to help a new batch of home cooks follow their food dreams."

**Media Note** â€" Download photos for MASTERCHEF CANADA at BellMediaPR.ca

MASTERCHEF CANADA is looking for passionate and talented home cooks who want to pursue their culinary dream. Details on how to apply for MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 3 are available at CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada, and Canadian home cooks have until 11:59 p.m. ET on July 19, 2015 to show their interest. Interviews are slated to take place in June and July, and applicants are encouraged to apply early to meet producers when they are in their region. Casting will come to an end with an Open Casting Call in Toronto on July 18 and 19, with additional details to be announced this summer.

In the next all-new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA, airing Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m. (9 p.m. CT) on CTV and CTV GO, the Season 2 Top 5 home cooks enter the kitchen and discover not one, but two Mystery Box surprises. One box is filled with ingredients, and the other huge box contains an inspiring, emotional message from their families back home. Emotions run even higher for the remaining home cooks when it's revealed that their families are in the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen, ready to cheer them on. The winning home cook gets to assign a piece of culinary equipment to each of their competitors in a strategic, high-stakes Elimination Challenge.Â

MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2 airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times). Past episodes of MASTERCHEF CANADA stream on demand on CTV GO and CTV.ca, and episodes encore following their broadcast premieres Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on M3, Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV Two, and Sundays at 5 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

The MASTERCHEF format is represented internationally by Endemol Shine Group, and is based on a format originally created by Franc Roddam.

MASTERCHEF CANADA is produced by Proper Television in association with CTV. President of Proper Television, Guy O'Sullivan is executive producer, along with Proper's Vice-President and Creative Director, Cathie James. For Bell Media, Tina Apostolopoulos is Production Executive, Factual and Reality, Independent Production. Robin Johnston is Director, Factual and Reality, Independent Production. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV. Phil King is President - CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
#MasterChefCanada
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@MasterChefCDA
Michael Bonacini â€" @MichaelBonacini
Alvin Leung â€" @TheDemonChef
Claudio Aprile â€" @ClaudioAprile

Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv
facebook.com/MasterChefCDA

Instagram:
BellMediaPR
MasterChefCDA
Claudio Aprile â€" claudioaprile1

About Proper Television
Proper Television is a leading provider of factual entertainment, reality, documentary and docu-dramas for Canadian, American, and International markets. Headed by former BBC director Guy O'Sullivan, Proper Television has earned a distinguished reputation for creating original series and hit versions of international formats including CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, MASTERCHEF CANADA, COME DINE WITH ME CANADA, and DON'T DRIVE HERE. Proper Television's shows and formats are sold internationally by newly formed Proper Rights.

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, MOTIVE, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, and MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the three-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, the most-watched original series in Space history BITTEN, Bravo's most-watched new drama 19-2, TRANSPORTER â€" THE SERIES, dramedy SENSITIVE SKIN, and the upcoming KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, COLD WATER COWBOYS, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 13 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.

- CTV -

Source: Numeris (BBM Canada). 2014 â€" 2015 Broadcast Year to Date: Sept. 22, 2014 â€" April 19, 2015; Spring 2015: Feb. 23, 2015 â€" April 19, 2015, final data.

SOURCE CTV