Fox renewed cooking show “MasterChef Junior” for Season 4 on Tuesday, with the new series to begin production this Spring.
The network also announced that pastry chef Christina Tosi will join the judging panel for both shows in the competitive cooking franchise, including the original, “MasterChef.” The renowned cook and restaurateur replaces departing judge Joe Bastianich and will be flanked by returning chefs Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot on the panel.
As TheWrap previously reported, the show’s producers announced Bastianich would not be returning to “MasterChef” or “MasterChef Junior” in November. But he is slated to finish his run with Season 3 of “Junior,” which began on Jan. 6.
Replacement Tosi is the founder, owner and chef of Milk Bar, a New York City-based dessert branch of the Momofuku restaurant group. She is also the 2012 recipient of the James Beard Rising Star Chef Award and a finalist for the 2014 James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef Award.
“‘MasterChef’ has been one of my favorite shows since it began, and like so many others, I fell in love with ‘MasterChef Junior,’” Tosi said in a statement. “I’m incredibly humbled by the opportunity and excited to pay forward all that I owe to learning what you’re made of in the home kitchen, and putting your neck on the line to show what you’ve got to the rest of the world.”
“Christina is one of the most exciting, dynamic and inspirational people in food today, whose brilliant ideas and incredible work ethic have resulted in a meteoric rise in the culinary world,” Ramsay added. “I have tremendous respect for her opinions, and she’ll be an incredible judge and phenomenal mentor to the best home cooks in America.”
Fox’s decision to renew “MasterChef Junior” while Season 3 is just getting underway isn’t a complete surprise considering the network ordered Seasons 2 and 3 of the series just after Season 1 finished its run in 2013. “MasterChef Junior” has been an unscripted hit for the network. Season 3 debuted to a 1.8 rating in the important 18-49 demographic on Jan. 6, with 5.3 million viewers tuning in.
“MasterChef” and “MasterChef Junior” are produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato. They are based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Paul Franklin, Robin Ashbrook, Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers.
Season 6 of “MasterChef” is currently in production and is set to air this summer. Season 3 of “MasterChef Junior” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.