MasterChef Australia: Season 8
Season 8 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Picks up essential narrative continuity directly following the events of MasterChef Australia Season 7.
- Character alliances, factions, and personal loyalties undergo significant shifts under escalating stakes.
- Addresses unresolved cliffhangers and thematic mysteries introduced during previous seasons.
- Establishes the primary seasonal conflict that drives serialized character arcs toward the finale.
Episode Guide
Season 8 Progress Shield
Premiere
May 1, 2016 · 81 min
MasterChef Australia returns with the best group of home cooks the competition has ever seen. In the first of three judges' auditions, our amateur cooks are given one hour to cook
2nd Judges' Auditions
May 2, 2016 · 52 min
In the second judges' auditions our amateur cooks are given one hour to cook their best dish. To receive an apron, the contestants must receive a yes from all three judges.
Final Round Judges' Auditions
May 3, 2016 · 53 min
With the Final Round of the Judge's Audition comes the First Pressure Test, which involves a Shannon Bennett Chocolate Bar.
First Mystery Box Challenge
May 4, 2016 · 49 min
2015's Masterchef, Billie McKay, knows exactly what this crop of aspirants are going through. Do you reckon she'll go easy on them when she picks the ingredients of the First Myste
First Elimination Challenge
May 5, 2016 · 49 min
In the first elimination challenge, three contestants choose a cloche containing a single ingredient to be used in a dish for the judges. The contestant with the least impressive d
Mystery Box Challenge: Marco Pierre White
May 8, 2016 · 75 min
The hopeful chefs suit up and show up for Marco Pierre White Week. With 75 minutes ticking away, they use the ingredients from Marco's mystery box of ingredients.
Pressure Test: Marco Pierre White's John Dory
May 9, 2016 · 47 min
It takes 20 ovens, miles of stainless steel, an arsenal of appliances and knives that chop, cut, slice and dice, to discover the best amateur chef in Australia. Tasks include myste
Immunity Challenge: Jake Kellie
May 10, 2016 · 54 min
The top three contestants from the invention test must make a filled pasta with a matching sauce. The winner will then enter a cook off for immunity against guest chef, Jake Kellie
Team Challenge: Pub Lunch
May 11, 2016 · 55 min
This challenge is all about the pub lunch. The contestants are split into two teams and must cook three courses for 70 people with Marco Pierre White running the pass.
Pressure Test & Masterclass
May 12, 2016 · 93 min
The contestants from the losing pub lunch challenge team must correctly name an ingredient to avoid the elimination cook-off challenge, as the contestant with the least impressive
Mystery Box Challenge: Viewers
May 15, 2016 · 74 min
This mystery box challenge has been chosen by the viewers. Contestants have 75 minutes to create a dish using at least one ingredient chosen by the viewers.
Pressure Test
May 16, 2016 · 50 min
The three contestants with the least impressive dishes from last nights the invention test face off in the pressure test. The contestant with the least impressive dish will be goin
Immunity Challenge: Popcorn
May 17, 2016 · 51 min
The three best performers in the invention test must create a dish using popcorn as the core ingredient. The winner will then need to out-cook the professional guest chef for immun
Service Challenge
May 18, 2016 · 55 min
In this service challenge, the contestants are split into two teams. Each team must cook a three-course meal for 30 people replicating dishes from two celebrated Melbourne restaura
Elimination Challenge: No Cooking
May 19, 2016 · 50 min
The losing team from the service challenge now faces elimination as the contestants create a dish without any cooking. The bottom three will then cook-off to avoid elimination from
Mystery Box: Nigella Lawson
May 22, 2016 · 76 min
It's Nigella Lawson Week. Contestants have 75 minutes to create a delicious dish based on Nigella's divine indulgences. The top three will have a chance at immunity while the botto
Pressure Test: Nigella Lawson's Three-Course Meal
May 23, 2016 · 51 min
The bottom three from Nigella's invention test face elimination in what might be the toughest pressure test ever, as contestants have just one hour to recreate Nigella's three-cour
Immunity Challenge: Midnight Snack
May 24, 2016 · 50 min
Matt Preston and Nigella Lawson arrive at the contestant house in the middle of the night as the three best from Nigella's invention test are asked to create a midnight snack for a
Team Challenge: Fete
May 25, 2016 · 55 min
Split into three teams, each team must prepare one savoury dish and two sweet dishes to sell at a fete held in honour of Nigella Lawson with all proceeds donated to the Royal Child
Elimination Challenge: Name That Cake & MasterClass 2
May 26, 2016 · 96 min
The losing fete challenge team now face elimination. Contestants must correctly name cakes, fail to do so and they will need to impress the judges with a cake of their own to stay
Mystery Box
May 29, 2016 · 74 min
The contestants have 60 minutes to create a dish using the ingredients in the mystery box. The winner will cook off for a chance at immunity and the bottom three will face the elim
Pressure Test: Jason Atherton's Quail Afternoon Tea Dish
May 30, 2016 · 52 min
The bottom three from the invention test now face the elimination pressure test. Contestants have just over 3 hours to recreate UK chef Jason Atherton's quail afternoon tea dish to
Immunity Challenge
May 31, 2016 · 60 min
With immunity up for grabs, contestants will work in pairs to create a savoury & sweet jaffle in 45 minutes. The winning pair will then need to out cook professional chefs to secur
Off-site Challenge: Hellenic Republic
Jun 1, 2016 · 58 min
Today's off-site challenge will take place at George Calombaris' Hellenic Republic restaurant. Split into two teams, each team must prepare a three course feast for 120 guests to a
Elimination Challenge: Blind Taste Test
Jun 2, 2016 · 55 min
The losing Greek feast challenge team now face elimination. Contestants who fail the Round 1 blind taste test must then impress the judges with a dish using the ingredient they did
Mystery Box Challenge & Invention Test
Jun 5, 2016 · 74 min
The Queen of the Australian kitchen, Maggie Beer returns! The invention test winner will have the advantage going into the mystery box challenge when contestants have an hour to im
Pressure Test: Anna Polyviou's Mess
Jun 6, 2016 · 54 min
The bottom three contestants from the mystery box challenge face off in the elimination pressure test. Contestants have just three hours to recreate & 15 minutes to plate up Anna P
Immunity Challenge
Jun 7, 2016 · 54 min
The three best performers from Maggie Beer's mystery box are now vying for immunity. The contestant who produces the best éclair in round one will then cook off against a professio
Team Challenge: Chinese New Year
Jun 8, 2016 · 55 min
Today's off-site team challenge marks the celebration of Chinese New Year joined by guest mentor, Kylie Kwong. Each team must prepare two set-price Asian street food dishes & sell
Elimination Challenge
Jun 9, 2016 · 52 min
The losing team from the Chinese New Year challenge must now cook a dish determined by lucky dip. With 75 minutes on the clock, the contestant with the least impressive dish will b
Mystery Box Challenge: Luke Nguyen & Invention Test
Jun 12, 2016 · 74 min
Today's mystery box challenge has been set by guest chef Luke Nguyen, as contestants have 60 minutes to make an impressive dish. The winner will then gain the advantage going into
Pressure Test: Ross Lusted
Jun 13, 2016 · 53 min
The bottom three contestants from the invention test face off in the elimination pressure test. Contestants have just two hours to recreate two of guest chef Ross Lusted's signatur
Top 12
Jun 14, 2016 · 55 min
The judges reveal to the top 12 contestants that today there are some special guests joining them in the MasterChef Australia kitchen.
Team Challenge
Jun 15, 2016 · 53 min
Guest chef Curtis Stone joins today's off-site team challenge. Each team must prepare a six-course degustation menu for 50 guests in only two and half hours to avoid the eliminatio
Elimination Challenge
Jun 16, 2016 · 54 min
The losing team from the Curtis Stone challenge now face elimination. Who will be leaving the MasterChef Australia kitchen?
Mystery Box Challenge: Ugly Ingredients & Invention Test: Relay
Jun 19, 2016 · 73 min
Today's mystery box challenge contains eight of the ugliest ingredients ever seen. The contestants must impress the judges by creating a beautiful & delicious dish in only 60 minut
Pressure Test: Flynn McGarry
Jun 20, 2016 · 52 min
The losing team from the invention test relay challenge now face off in the pressure test. Contestants must recreate guest chef Flynn McGarry's signature dish to avoid elimination.
Immunity Challenge: Victor Liong
Jun 21, 2016 · 48 min
The four contestants who impressed in the relay invention test cook for immunity. Does the winner of the first round have what it takes to out-cook guest chef Victor Liong from Lee
Team Challenge: Gourmet Cinema
Jun 22, 2016 · 50 min
In today's gourmet cinema team challenge, the judges reveal that the contestants must cater for 165 cinema goers at a very special cinema event - the screening of MasterChef Austra
Elimination Challenge
Jun 23, 2016 · 53 min
The losing team from the gourmet cinema challenge are now cooking to save themselves from elimination. If they survive, they will make it into the top 10.
Heston Week
Jun 26, 2016 · 71 min
Heston Week. Heston Blumenthal returns to MasterChef Australia in the biggest week ever. In a world first, the top 10 contestants open four Heston inspired & supervised MasterChef
Team Challenge: Brighton Beach Ice Cream Stands
Jun 27, 2016 · 49 min
Heston Week. For one day only, Melbourne's iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes become ice cream stands selling Heston-inspired ice creams & ice blocks. The least impressive team wi
Team Challenge: Three-Course Dessert Spread
Jun 28, 2016 · 53 min
Heston Week. Tonight's challenge, Heston inspires the contestants to create a three-course dessert spread using only the food of the Gods: chocolate. The least impressive team will
Elimination Challenge: Recipes from the Past
Jun 29, 2016 · 44 min
Heston Week. Heston's restaurants are all about taking recipes from the past & giving them a modern twist. Four contestants must prepare a single course inspired by recipes from th
Elimination Challenge & MasterClass 3
Jun 30, 2016 · 90 min
Masterclass. The seven contestants who created the least impressive dishes during the pop-ups now face off to stay in the competition in the final Heston-inspired challenge. Plus,
Mystery Box Challenge & Invention Test
Jul 3, 2016 · 71 min
The judges reveal that this week will be the toughest ever! In today's invention test contestants must choose between three of the hardest invention test dishes ever from previous
Pressure Test
Jul 4, 2016 · 46 min
The three contestants with the least impressive dishes from last night's invention test face off in the pressure test. At the end of the cook, one of these contestants will be goin
Immunity Challenge
Jul 5, 2016 · 55 min
The three best performers in the invention test must now impress the judges in Round One for a chance to cook off against a professional chef and gain immunity.
Team Challenge: Australian Produce
Jul 6, 2016 · 50 min
The remaining eight contestants are split into teams of two to cook a two-course meal inspired by quality Australian produce for 80 diners. The two least impressive teams will face
Elimination Challenge
Jul 7, 2016 · 55 min
The four members of the losing teams from the service challenge now face elimination. With so much at stake, which contestant will fail to impress the judges and be sent home from
Mystery Box Challenge: San Francisco Produce & Invention Test
Jul 10, 2016 · 74 min
California Week. The MasterChef Australia competition travels to California for the week. With just a map in hand the contestants must track down today's mystery box ingredients fr
Team Challenge: Dominque Crenn's Signature Dishes
Jul 11, 2016 · 48 min
California Week. Contestants must work in teams to recreate two of Dominque Creen's signature dishes. Dominque is a Michelin-starred chef & was recently voted the World's Best Fema
Francis Ford Coppola's Inglenook Estate
Jul 12, 2016 · 49 min
California Week. Today four of the most impressive contestants are cooking for a guaranteed place in finals week at Francis Ford Coppola's Inglenook Estate in the Napa Valley.
Team Challenge: Santa Monica Pier Food Trucks
Jul 13, 2016 · 43 min
California Week. Today the contestants are split into teams to run their very own food trucks at the world famous Santa Monica Pier. There is plenty at stake with the winning team
Elimination Challenge & MasterClass 4
Jul 14, 2016 · 85 min
Masterclass. The losing team from the Food Truck Challenge now face elimination. Under the mentorship of Curtis Stone, they must cook a dish that symbolises what they're going to d
Mystery Box Challenge: Hottest Ingredients & Invention Test
Jul 17, 2016 · 69 min
Finals Week. The top six contestants now face a mystery box challenge containing some of the hottest ingredients being used in the world right now. The winner will gain the advanta
Pressure Test: Christy Tania
Jul 18, 2016 · 57 min
Finals Week. The bottom three contestants from the invention test now face the elimination pressure test set by pastry chef & dessert specialist, Christy Tania.
Service Challenge: Lake House
Jul 19, 2016 · 48 min
Finals Week. The Top Five contestants must cook five dishes from the menu of the Lake House in Daylesford under the guidance of legendary chef & owner, Alla Wolf-Tasker.
Elimination Challenge: Audition Ingredients
Jul 20, 2016 · 49 min
Finals Week. The bottom 3 contestants from the Lake House challenge now face elimination & must impress the judges with a dish produced from the ingredients that they each cooked w
MasterClass 5
Jul 21, 2016 · 51 min
Masterclass. The final MasterClass of 2016 sees the return of the eliminated contestants. The shoe's on the other foot for George, Gary & Shannon who must cook a dish from ingredie
Mystery Box Challenge & Invention Test: Quarter Final
Jul 24, 2016 · 78 min
Grand Final Week. In today's Quarter Final mystery box challenge & invention test, contestants cook off for a place in the Semi Final using ingredients chosen by their loved ones.
Service Challenge: Semi Final
Jul 25, 2016 · 75 min
Grand Final Week. The final three contestants vie for a place in the Grand Finale in tonight's service challenge. Each contestant must prepare a main and a dessert for 20 guests pl
MasterChef 2016 Grand Finale
Jul 26, 2016 · 114 min
Grand Finale. Who will be crowned the winner of MasterChef Australia 2016? The finalists are competing for a $250,000 cash prize & a column in Australia's leading premium food maga