Cooking plans for more MasterChef

Nadia Lim. Photo / Janna Dixon

The hit TV show MasterChef wasn't on the backburner for long. The second season finished only last month, but producers are already preparing to serve up a third season.

TVNZ is tight-lipped about developments. Publicist Meredith McGrath confirmed that contestant-casting was under way. No contracts had been signed but it's understood producers want to keep judges Simon Gault, Josh Emett and Ray McVinnie on board.

Gault was keen to continue to be part of the show.

"I definitely enjoyed the first two so that would be great," he said. "I hope it's going to be bigger and better."

The contestants for the third season are likely to stay once more at Orcon founder Seeby Woodhouse's mansion Casa Del Mar on Auckland's North Shore.

TVNZ said filming would start after the Rugby World Cup and before the end of the year. The network was considering a celebrity spinoff - like the ones in the UK and Australia - but there had been no decision yet.

Those hoping to emulate previous winners Brett McGregor and Nadia Lim can apply through the TVNZ website, but may want to study the fine print, which has some peculiarities.

Contestants are required to agree that producers and any affiliated media may use their likeness "throughout the universe in perpetuity" and they must also agree to be available for "psychological examinations".