The smash hit TV programme MasterChef Arabia is back in flavour this week as hopeful home chefs continue to sharpen their culinary skills in a bid to remain in the competition, all to the delight of the viewing public. MasterChef Arabia, screened exclusively on STV1, has taken television programming in Saudi Arabia and the wider Arab world to a higher level. MasterChef is one of the most successful TV global franchises and we now have our very own version, produced by Arab companies and showcasing home-grown talent. This fantastic achievement serves to demonstrate that a local network can produce an international program equal to, if not better than, one produced anywhere else in the world. MasterChef, along with other large-scale, top-rated international formats, such as “Al-Muka'ab”, a highly-viewed game show launched in 2010, based on “The Cube”, and “Dragons' Den”, a show that allows entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, has enabled STV1 to secure its position in the industry as a credible source of entertainment. The popularity of these formats are the product of the successful working relationship STV has with Creative Edge, one of the region's most prominent media companies. “The debut of MasterChef Arabia has been a resounding success in all aspects,” said a Saleh ALMughailis, SBC spokesperson. “It is a big responsibility, bringing a program that is a global phenomenon to the Middle East, and we believe we have stepped up to the challenge and produced a show that truly holds its own when compared to versions produced in other territories. We are proud to report that the response from the viewing public has been extremely positive, and this is just the start of a movement to bring similarly engaging shows to the nation - we're extremely excited about the future of STV and the high-quality entertainment we will be bringing to our viewers from now on.” Even by MasterChef standards, this week's “Mystery Box' challenge produced a major surprise, as the over-sized box was lifted to reveal guest chef Joe Barza. He selected his favorite ingredients for the amateurs to cook with, eventually forcing Nisrine Barhoom home. The team challenge saw the contestants get a taste of Old Siam as it moved to the delightful Pai Thai restaurant, where contestants took over the awesome eatery, cooking for 20 diners. Abdel Hakim's team faced the pressure test, resulting in Adnan Al Yamani being sent home. The remaining contestants seeking the coveted MasterChef Arabia title face one of their most challenging tasks this week, this one isn't for the faint-hearted and is guaranteed to make some of the home chefs more than a little sheepish. — SG
