MasterChef Israel Returns with All-Star Contestants for Dream Team Season

Israeli broadcaster Keshet 12 is launching a special new season of MasterChef titled "MasterChef: Dream Team," featuring 12 popular contestants from previous seasons who narrowly missed winning. The show will give these familiar chefs a second chance to compete for the coveted title. Returning participants include Jackie Azulai, Eden Harel, Gal Kaspers, Eliav Sasson, Manal Ismail, Aviva Pivko, Tair Mordoch, Bar Levi, Costa Osadchi, Nissim Zleit, Danit Sofer, and Haim Cohen.

This season introduces a revamped judging panel alongside veteran judges Michal Ansky, Eyal Shani, and Yuval Ben Neriah, with the addition of chef Avi Biton. This change follows chef Yossi Shitrit's move from Keshet 13 to Keshet 12, where he joined the regular MasterChef judging team. Shitrit, recognized internationally as "Chef of the Year" and owner of acclaimed restaurants "Hiba" and "Benedict," will judge alongside Haim Cohen, Ruti Brodoh, Eyal Shani, and Israel Aharoni in the standard MasterChef season.

The "Dream Team" format allows standout contestants who made a strong impression but did not win to return and showcase their culinary skills once more. Among them, Eden Harel recently suffered a minor shoulder injury during a family vacation in Cyprus but remains part of the cast. Casting for the season has concluded, and the show is expected to air later this year on Keshet 12, produced by Endemol Shine Israel. This format has proven successful internationally by giving fan-favorite chefs another opportunity to captivate audiences and compete for the title.