masterchef australia social distancing

‘MasterChef’ Has Started Social Distancing & It’s Super Weird To Watch

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MasterChef started airing just when lockdown restrictions came into effect and social distancing became the norm. While the series was largely filmed before the pandemic, the episodes have finally caught up with the current climate.

After weeks of the contestants competing like they would on any other season, on last night’s episode social distancing was finally enforced and I hate to see it.

Watching MasterChef this season has felt like living in a safe, cosy bubble. The series premiered just when most of us were getting used to being stuck inside and not seeing our family and friends on the outside. Tuning into the cooking show nightly — where they weren’t living under the same restrictions — became a comforting escape, providing a little piece of normality.

But the change was evident as soon as the contestants arrived in the MasterChef kitchen last night, and they all had to stand 1.5 metres apart.

The judges no longer eat from the same plate, dedicated hand-washing stations were placed around the kitchen, and there’s now more space between each contestant’s bench. While the contestants used to regularly hug and stand in close proximity, that’s now a thing of the past and not everyone is handling it.

Not being able to physically embrace one another meant that at the end of yesterday’s challenge, as Sarah and Jess ran to Callum to congratulate him for finishing the relay, they had to do this bizarre air hug.

High fiving is obviously no longer an option, so instead the contestants would air five.

While it’s obviously for the best and to keep everyone safe, it’s going to be super weird watching the rest of this season.