MasterChef South Africa is a reality cooking competition for amateurs and it's the SA version of a series that has thrilled viewers in over 33 countries. Started with the aim of helping amateur cooks realise their food dreams - and entertaining millions of viewers at the same time! - in the debut SA season, thousands of hopefuls will cook for the chance to be a part of the MasterChef kitchen.

They will be scrutinized by South Africa's leading culinary experts as they battle it out for the title of MasterChef. The Judges are Andrew Atkinson, Benny Masekwameng and Pete Goffe-Wood!

Auditions for South Africa's first MasterChef kicked off early in December 2011 in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, with thousands turning up with their finest cold dishes in the hope of impressing an esteemed team of preliminary judges. The best of the best will appear in future rounds, broadcast on M-Net.

According to M-Net's Communications Manager, Lani Lombard, the first auditions proved that MasterChef SA has all the ingredients to be an extremely popular television show. "South Africans are passionate about food and those who enter MasterChef definitely know how to whip up mouthwatering dishes. In this show, it's not so much about separating the wheat from the chaff; it's about finding the very best potential candidates among thousands of good cooks. We're looking for someone with the mindset of a MasterChef."

M-Net’s Channel Head, Pierre Cloete added: “The MasterChef series has proven to be so popular around the world and with M-Net viewers that we expect a lot of interest in the show. The show premiere's on M-Net on Tuesday 20 March.

MasterChef SA offers the most valuable prize in South African television history: R250 000 from Robertsons, a brand new Hyundai Elantra 1.6 GLS, a 7-day culinary experience in Italy and an Italian cookery course courtesy of Woolworths, a year’s supply of Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve wines and a customised sommelier course and one-on-one MasterClasses with Nederburg’s cellarmaster, as well as their very own Southern Sun restaurant at Sun Square Montecasino. The total prize value for South Africa’s first MasterChef exceeds R8 Million.

Hungry for more MasterChef SA? Join the discussion on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!