CTV Delivers a Fifth Serving of Hit Culinary Series MASTERCHEF CANADA for 2017/18 Season

(L-R) MASTERCHEF CANADA judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung and Claudio Aprile (CNW Group/CTV)

### Casting is Now Open For Season 5 ###

– Canadian culinary luminaries Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile return as judges –
– Home cooks looking to follow their culinary dream can apply now at MasterChefCanada.CTV.ca/Casting  –
– Open casting call to be held in Toronto on Sunday, Sept 17 – 
– A Top 5 program with Millennials, Season 4 of MASTERCHEF CANADA was the most-watched Canadian program this past spring with total viewers and all key demos –

To tweet this release: http://bmpr.ca/2uvjaEB

TORONTO, July 26, 2017 /CNW/ - Hot on the heels of a delectable Season 4 run, CTV announced today another season of its hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF CANADA for the 2017/2018 broadcast season. Casting for home cooks looking to follow their culinary dream is now open at MasterChefCanada.CTV.ca/Casting, with production set to begin this fall in Toronto on a new 12-episode season from Proper Television.

Marking a return to the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen are distinguished Canadian judges Michael Bonacini (O&B restaurant empire), Alvin Leung (Bo Innovation in Hong Kong), and Claudio Aprile (Copetin Restaurant & Bar). The esteemed trio are poised to once again mentor and challenge everyday Canadians to elevate their cooking and presentation skills to a professional level, as home cooks compete in high-stakes cooking challenges to secure the MASTERCHEF CANADA title and take home a $100,000 cash prize.  

Canadians maintain a strong appetite for MASTERCHEF CANADA. A Top 5 program with Millennials, Season 4 of MASTERCHEF CANADA was the most-watched Canadian program this past spring with total viewers and all key demos. The Season 4 finale alone averaged 1.4 million total viewers.

"We are delighted to set the table for Season 5 of MASTERCHEF CANADA and to welcome the next group of talented home cooks looking to make their culinary dreams a reality," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media. "We are proud of our continued collaboration with exceptionally talented production partners Proper Television and Endemol Shine Group, and look forward to creating an all-new season of the internationally recognized MASTERCHEF format with, as always, an irresistable Canadian flavour."

"Canadians continue to make MASTERCHEF CANADA one of the most popular programs on television," said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. "We are happy to return such a powerful and beloved CTV franchise to the schedule with Season 5 set for Spring 2018."

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

Casting for Season 5 of MASTERCHEF CANADA is now open at MasterChefCanada.CTV.ca/Casting. Passionate and talented Canadian home cooks hungry for an opportunity to pursue their culinary dreams have until 11:59 p.m. ET on September 17, 2017 to apply online. Casting will come to an end with Open Casting Call in Toronto on September 17 with additional details to be announced later this summer. Interviews are slated to take place this fall, and applicants are encouraged to apply early for an opportunity to meet producers when they are in their region. Additional details will be available at CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada.

Viewers can relive all the culinary action from the MASTERCHEF CANADA kitchen with Season 4 episodes available on demand at CTV.ca and on the CTV GO app. Seasons 2–4 of MASTERCHEF CANADA are also streaming now on CraveTV.

The MASTERCHEF format and finished programmes are 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. Proper's Vice-President and Creative Director Cathie James is the Showrunner and Executive Producer. For Bell Media, Tina Apostolopoulos is Production Executive; Robin Johnston is Director, Original Programming, Factual and Reality; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Original Programming. Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming; Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Content and Programming. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

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

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

Instagram:
@ctv_pr 
@ctv_television 
@MasterChefCDA 
@BellMediaPR 
Claudio Aprile – @claudioaprile1 
Michael Bonacini – @chefmichaelbonacini

About Endemol Shine Group
Endemol Shine Group is a global production powerhouse creating world class content for all platforms.

As a producer and distributor, Endemol Shine Group works on a unique local and global axis, comprised of 120 companies across all the world's major markets, dedicated to creating content that enthralls and inspires.

In 2016 the company's travelling formats originated from 10 different countries across the Group, with global hits including MasterChef, Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, The Money Drop, Your Face Sounds Familiar, The Brain, Hunted and The Island. Endemol Shine Group's drama portfolio is similarly international and diverse, with acclaimed worldwide hits such as Humans, Bron, Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, Kingdom, Grantchester, The Fall, Intersection, Spring Tide, Penoza and Broadchurch. The Group's award-winning digital production and distribution studio Endemol Shine Beyond helps advertisers and brands to engage millennial audiences around the world through popular online content and channels including Coke TV and eSports format Legends of Gaming, each with local adaptations in multiple markets.

In 2016 Endemol Shine Group produced more than 700 productions, in 66 territories airing on 267 channels around the world.

About Proper Television
Since opening its doors in 2004, Proper Television has become one of Canada's premier production companies, creating more than 600 hours of smart, fresh and compelling factual programming for audiences around the world. Proper's award-winning slate includes original productions like VEGAS RAT RODS; TOUGHER THAN IT LOOKS; LAST STOP GARAGE and DON'T DRIVE HERE, as well as home grown versions of international formats such as MASTERCHEF, CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, STORAGE WARS, FOUR WEDDINGS and COME DINE WITH ME.

About Bell Media Original Programming
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 series commissioned by CTV include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, MASTERCHEF CANADA, hit drama CARDINAL, and upcoming original series THE DISAPPEARANCE, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE, and THE DETAIL. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are Space's internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK as well as KILLJOYS, WYNONNA EARP, and DARK MATTER; Bravo's award-winning and most-watched original drama 19-2; CraveTV hit comedy LETTERKENNY; Discovery's first-ever drama FRONTIER; Comedy's satirical news series THE BEAVERTON, CORNER GAS ANIMATED; and multiple series and specials for food and lifestyle channel Gusto, including ONE WORLD KITCHEN and A IS FOR APPLE. Discovery is also home to Bell Media's hit factual franchise HIGHWAY THRU HELL, COLD WATER COWBOYS, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. Bell Media is one of the first media companies in North America to commit to producing all new original scripted series in 4K.

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 16 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, Spring 2017 (Feb. 27 – May 28, 2017). Final data.

SOURCE CTV

Penny Evangelakos, CTV Networks, 416.384.3016 or [email protected]; Matthew Almeida, CTV Networks, 416.384.2629 or [email protected]; Jesse Wanagas, CTV Networks, 416.384.3193 or [email protected]; Patrcia Garcia, CTV Networks, 416.384.2645 or [email protected]