MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 3 Gets Valentine's Day Premiere on CTV, while Multiplatform Sampling Opportunity Unlocked for Premiere Episode Beginning Feb. 8

– Canadians set to reignite their love affair as all-new season airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT beginning Feb. 14, with the premiere leading into a special two-hour season finale event of SAVING HOPE at 8 p.m. ET/PT –
– The premiere episode will be available to viewers early through an exclusive preview, beginning Monday, Feb. 8 at CTV.ca, the CTV GO app, and on set top box –
– Season 3 home cook finalists include a carpenter, model, farmer, doctor, flight attendant, and high school teacher –
– Finalists compete to make it into the Top 14 for the chance to win a $100,000 cash prize and the title of the next Canadian MasterChef –
– Viewers can visit CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada to learn more about this season's finalists, the MASTERCHEF CANADA judges, and to access interviews, recipes, and exclusive must-see videos –

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

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Cupid's arrow strikes a new batch of home cooks as Canada's favourite food fight returns with MASTERCHEF CANADA Season 3 airing Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT beginning Valentine's Day, Feb. 14 on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV GO app. With food and love intimately intertwined, gourmands and food-lovers from a diverse array of backgrounds and with varying expertise, step out of their homes and into the MASTERCHEF CANADA Kitchen to test their skills as they face-off against their fellow competitors. Challenge after challenge, viewers see who is meant to be as these talented home cooks turn up the heat on the audition process, preparing signature dishes for esteemed judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile.

The premiere episode will be available to viewers early through an exclusive preview beginning Monday, Feb. 8 at CTV.ca, the CTV GO app, and on set top box. New episodes of MASTERCHEF CANADA will also be available on demand at CTV.ca and on the CTV GO app, and will encore Mondays at 8 p.m. ET beginning Feb. 15 on M3, Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET/PT beginning Feb. 20 on CTV Two, and Sundays at 5 p.m. ET/PT beginning Feb. 21 on CTV. Viewers can check out past MASTERCHEF CANADA episodes back-to-back with Seasons 1 and 2 streaming now exclusively on CraveTV^TM.

"After two outstanding seasons of this series, it's no surprise that Canadians have rallied behind these home cooks to make MASTERCHEF CANADA a fan favourite nationwide," said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks and CraveTV. "The Sunday at 7 p.m. timeslot provides a great opportunity for family viewing, and MASTERCHEF CANADA fans have a lot to look forward to this season with a new, diverse batch of home cooks and exciting new challenges."

Finishing its second season with an average audience of 1.7 million viewers, MASTERCHEF CANADA was the #1 Canadian series last spring among total viewers, A18-49, and A25-54, and appetites are whet for a new season of drama and kitchen competition. At stake this season is a $100,000 cash prize and the title of Canada's next MasterChef, giving the Season 3 finalists every incentive to put their signature dishes on the line for a shot at being the last one standing in the kitchen.

The Top 40 cooking for the MASTERCHEF CANADA title are:
-       Alawn Lai, a Real Estate Developer from Markham, Ont.
-       Alex Gabriele, a Sales Administrator from Montréal, Qué.
-       Allie Romao, a Staffing Consultant from Edmonton, Alta.
-       Amanda Caruso, a Costumer from Montréal, Qué.
-       Amanda Gill, an Athletics and Student Life Coordinator from Montréal, Qué.
-       April Lee Baker, a Homemaker from Calgary, Alta.
-       Carlo Lato, a Server from Montréal, Qué.
-       Carrla Cowley, a High School Teacher from Sturgeon County, Alta.
-       Coco Perron, in Customer Service from Montréal, Qué.
-       Danae Daniels, a Model from Vancouver, B.C.
-       Dave Kantor, VP Operations, Telecommunications from Edmonton, Alta.
-       David Young, a Carpenter from Moncton, N.B. 
-       Domingo Lumanog, a Brand Manager from Calgary, Alta.
-       Dru Davids, a Graphic Designer from Edmonton, Alta.
-       Elizabeth Bowers, an Administrator from Toronto, Ont.
-       Ernie Chow, a Management Consultant from Toronto, Ont.
-       Fanassa Kettle, a Pharmacist from Montréal, Qué.
-       Jacqueline Clark, an Accountant from Abbotsford, B.C.
-       Jasdeep Sra, a Carpenter from Surrey, B.C.
-       Jennifer Baglione, a Salon Manager from Maple, Ont.
-       Jeremy Senaris, a Building Plan Examiner from Winnipeg, Man.
-       Jose Torres, a Flight Attendant from Calgary, Alta.
-       Julia Mark, a Makeup Artist from Burnaby, B.C.
-       Kendra Olesen, a Server from Saskatoon, Sask.
-       Les Barr, a Farmer from Digby, N.S.
-       Mags Kandis, a Writer and Designer from Wellington, Ont.
-       Mary Berg, an Insurance Broker from Toronto, Ont.
-       Matthew Astorga, a Digital Design Consultant from Pitt Meadows, B.C.
-       Michelle Nault, a Teacher from Bolton, Ont.
-       Mike Johnson, a Student and Cheerleader from London, Ont.
-       Nicole Olthius, a Stay-At-Home Mom from Cardston, Alta.
-       Reno Vaccaro, a Phys Ed Teacher from Montréal, Qué.
-       Robyn Held, an Investment Banker from Toronto, Ont.
-       Sean Hickey, an Auto Worker from London, Ont.
-       Shawn Karls, a Doctor from Montréal, Qué.
-       Terry Adido, a PhD Law Student from Edmonton, Alta.
-       Travis Petersen, Manager, Oil and Gas Industry, Calgary, Alta.
-       Veronica Cham, a Lawyer from Toronto, Ont.
-       Vince Spitale, a Contractor from Pickering, Ont.
-       Zhara Mian, Unemployed from Toronto, Ont.

In the premiere episode (Sunday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. ET/PT), following national auditions to discover Canada's most promising home cooks, the finalists handle their first pressure cooker of the competition as they prepare their signature dish for judges Michael Bonacini, Alvin Leung, and Claudio Aprile. For some, this will be the kiss of death as the judges' discriminating palates will determine whose plates are worthy of a coveted white apron. With the home cooks requiring a 'yes' from each judge to receive an apron this season, it's harder than ever for the finalists to make it into the coveted Top 14. When the competition continues during the second episode, airing Sunday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, a select number of home cooks will compete in a head-to-head challenge with the hope of advancing in the competition and reaching the Top 14.

Viewers can visit CTV.ca/MasterChefCanada for exclusive content throughout the season, including additional details about this season's finalists and the MASTERCHEF CANADA judges, as well as interviews, recipes, and more. Fans can also watch exclusive must-see videos where the home cooks are put to the test with rapid-fire questions and share their 'Best, Worst, and First' dishes. CTV.ca also serves up a behind-the-scenes look at this season's challenges and delectable dishes.

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. 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; Randy Lennox is President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting.

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:
@MasterChefCDA

About Endemol Shine Group
Endemol Shine Group is the new joint venture bringing together Endemol and Shine Group to create a global content creator, producer and distributor with a portfolio of international hits including Big Brother, Black Mirror, Broadchurch, Bron/Broen, Deal or No Deal, Grantchester, Hell on Wheels, Humans, MasterChef, Mr. Bean, One Born Every Minute, Peaky Blinders, The Biggest Loser, The Fall, The Money Drop, Your Face Sounds Familiar and many more.

Endemol Shine Group's businesses have creative operations in over 30 markets, with a diverse portfolio of over 600 revenue generating formats across scripted and non-scripted genres; coupled with digital, gaming, and distribution operations. 

21st Century Fox and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC jointly manage Endemol Shine Group, with each owning 50 per cent.

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 series commissioned by CTV include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, MOTIVE, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, and MASTERCHEF CANADA. CTV recently announced its first-ever serialized drama CARDINAL. Among the original scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, the smash-hit thriller BITTEN, Space's most-watched original series KILLJOYS, Bravo's most-watched original drama 19-2, award-winning dramedy SENSITIVE SKIN, upcoming cult comedy LETTERKENNY, and the new original drama FRONTIER. 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 14 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), Broadcast Season 2014-15 (Sep. 22, 2014 – May 24, 2015), final data.

SOURCE CTV

Tonia Addison, CTV Networks, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]; Christy Sullivan, CTV Networks, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]