A Tension-Filled Team Challenge and Dramatic Pressure Test Sees Debra Pangestu Eliminated from CTV's MASTERCHEF CANADA

– Season 1 winner Eric Chong returns to the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen in the next new episode on Sunday, March 8 at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. CT) –
– Currently averaging 1.5 million viewers, MASTERCHEF CANADA is the #1 Canadian series among all key demos –

TORONTO, March 1, 2015 /CNW/ - After a high-stakes day under the iconic Cirque du Soleil blue-and-yellow Big Top, the MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 2 home cooks returned to the kitchen for the first Pressure Test of the season, which ended with judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile eliminating Debra Pangestu, a Public Relations Officer from Richmond, B.C. from the competition. With 13 home cooks remaining, MASTERCHEF CANADA continues next Sunday, March 8 at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. CT) on CTV, with an Elimination Challenge inspired by Season 1 winner Eric Chong.

After dividing into two teams on the stage of Cirque du Soleil's show Kurios: A Cabinet of Curiosities, the Red Team, led by Andrew Al-Khouri, and the Blue Team, led by Line Pelletier, prepared a buffet meal for the show's acrobats, performers, and crew. As tension and conflict brewed under Line's authoritative military leadership, the Red Team's cooperative team spirit led them to victory – and earned them immunity from elimination.

Once back in the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen, the Blue Team faced the season's first Pressure Test which came with two twists. First, the winning Red Team was given the option to save one member of the Blue Team from elimination, and they decided to save Jennifer Innis. The second twist gave Line the opportunity to save one member of her team from elimination, and in a dramatic and surprising turn, she decided to save herself. Once safe in the gallery, Line had a shocking collapse and following medical attention, it was determined she was dehydrated and would recover. With Line in the hands of paramedics, the five remaining home cooks faced the Pressure Test featuring a Québécois favourite; tourtière. After a tension-filled cook and judging, Christopher Siu, Michael Motamedi, and Sabrina Poirier all moved to the next step of the competition, while the bottom two home cooks were Tammy Wood and Debra Pangestu, with Debra heading home.

**Media Note** – Download photos for MASTERCHEF CANADA at BellMediaPR.ca

Following its premiere on Feb. 1, MASTERCHEF CANADA has become the #1 Canadian series among all key demos for the broadcast year to date, and currently averages 1.5 million viewers.

In the next new episode of MASTERCHEF CANADA (Sunday, March 8 at 7 p.m./8 p.m. CT), the home cooks face their second Mystery Box Challenge and this time, victory rests on an iconic Italian favourite. The home cook who most impresses the judges selects the ingredient everyone else cooks with in an Elimination Challenge inspired by the journey of MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 1 winner, Eric Chong.

The remaining home cooks vying for the title of MASTERCHEF CANADA and the $100,000 cash prize are:

• Andrew Al-Khouri, a Tax Officer from Halifax, N.S.
• Christopher Siu, a Pharmacy Student from Markham, Ont.
• Cody Karey, a Recording Artist from Vancouver, B.C.
• David Jorge, a Concrete Contractor from Surrey, B.C.
• Jennifer Innis, a Dental Hygienist from Vernon, B.C.
• Jon Hameister-Ries, a former Pro Football Player and Financial Advisor from Vancouver, B.C.
• Kevin Gregory, an Applications Engineer from Fredericton, N.B.
• Kristen Dwyer, an Early Childhood Educator from Conception Bay South, N.L.
• Kwasi Douglas, a Community Facilitator from Ajax, Ont.
• Line Pelletier, a Canadian Military Veteran and Computer Specialist from Moncton, N.B.
• Michael Motamedi, an Entrepreneur from Toronto, Ont.
• Sabrina Poirier, an Office Manager from Montréal, Que.
• Tammy Wood, a Retail Clerk from Agassiz, B.C.

MASTERCHEF CANADA also streams 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. Viewers can also enjoy the Season 1 cooking all over again, with the full season of MASTERCHEF CANADA available exclusively on CraveTV.

The MASTERCHEF format is represented internationally by Shine International, the sales and distribution arm of 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. Shine America's Paula Warwick is Creative Consultant. 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 – @MichaelBonacini
Alvin Leung – @TheDemonChef
Claudio Aprile – @ClaudioAprile
Andrew Al-Khouri – @Zataartheory
Christopher Siu – @Baker_Siu
Cody Karey – @codykarey
David Jorge – @concrete_cook
Jennifer Innis – @JenniferInnis
Jon Hameister-Ries – @jonhr67
Kevin Gregory – @Bistro113
Kristen Dwyer – @kristenstar23
Kwasi Douglas – @splashdafoodgod
Line Pelletier – @TheSaucyLine
Michael Motamedi – @MichaelBaffi
Sabrina Poirier – @Sabrinapmtl
Tammy Wood – @saucysgotgame

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

Instagram:
MasterChefCDA
BellMediaPR
Claudio Aprile – claudioaprile1
Andrew Al-Khouri – Zataartheory
Christopher Siu – baker_siu
Cody Karey – codykarey
David Jorge – concrete_cook
Jennifer Innis – jensheninnis
Jon Hameister-Ries – jonhr67
Kevin Gregory – Smokin_Foodie
Kristen Dwyer – kristendwyer23
Kwasi Douglas – da_Food_God
Line Pelletier – TheSaucyLine
Michael Motamedi – MichaelBaffi 
Sabrina Poirier – Sabrinapmtl
Tammy Wood – saucysgotgame

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.

Source: Numeris (BBM Canada), Sept. 22, 2014 – Feb. 15, 2015, final data.

SOURCE CTV

Tanya Koivusalo, CTV Networks, 416.384.2664 or [email protected]; Christy Sullivan, CTV Networks, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]