SEASON FIVE OF "MASTERCHEF" FIRES UP MONDAY, MAY 26, ON FOX

NATIONWIDE SEARCH BRINGS 30 OF THE BEST HOME COOKS TO LOS ANGELES TO COMPETE FOR THE "MASTERCHEF" TITLE

Advertising Executive, Stay-at-Home-Dad, Admissions Counselor, High School Student and Church Music Director Among Hopefuls

Host and award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay, restaurateur Joe Bastianich and acclaimed chef Graham Elliot return for Season Five of the culinary smash hit MASTERCHEF, premiering Monday, May 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

More hopefuls than ever before auditioned at MASTERCHEF's open casting calls in Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; and Phoenix, AZ to prove they have what it takes to make a mark on the culinary world. Only one talented home cook will join Season Four winner Luca Manfe; Season Three winner Christine Ha, the first-ever blind contestant; Season Two winner Jennifer Behm; and Season One winner Whitney Miller in the elite group of MASTERCHEF titleholders.

This season will feature 30 contestants representing 14 states from all walks of life - including an advertising executive, a petroleum landman, a stay-at-home-dad, an admissions counselor, a high school student and a church music director - all with the hopes of turning their culinary dreams into reality.

Below are the hometowns, names and professions of the Top 30 Home Cooks who participated in the MASTERCHEF auditions:

State/Hometown Name Profession

Alabama
Birmingham Elise Mayfield e-Learning Administrator

Arizona
Phoenix Natanya Spears Construction Coordinator

California
Irvine Gordon Houston Law Student Graduate
Los Angeles Daniel McGuffey Video Game Designer
Malibu Leslie Gilliams Stay-at-Home-Dad
Palo Alto Ahran Cho High School Student
Tarzana Amy Pezeshkifar Graduate Student
Yorba Linda Ruth Schreber Sanchez Stay-at-Home Mom

Florida
Orlando Francis Biondi Server

Idaho
Star Chandis Siwek Dietician Intern

Illinois
Chicago Rickie Perez Food Truck Manager

Kentucky
Lexington Dan Wu Unemployed
Pikeville Corey Charles Winery Manager

Louisiana
Mandeville Astrid Lavenia Food Sales
New Orleans Christian Green Sales Representative
Thibidaux Michael Williams Student

Michigan
Detroit Stephani Syfax-Shepherd Server

New York
Brooklyn Elizabeth Cauvel Advertising Executive
New York City Francis Legge Music Video Director
Queens Jaimee Vitolo Bakery Assistant
Yonkers Christine Silverstein Investment Director

Ohio
Columbus Whitney Bray Call Center Representative
Wilmington Tyler Viars Hunting Sales Manager
Youngstown Kira Novak Medical Recruiter

Pennsylvania
Meadville Gavin Edmondson Admissions Counselor
Philadelphia Courtney Lapresi Aerial Dancer

Texas
Beaumont Cutter Brewer Petroleum Landman
Houston Willie Mike Church Music Director
San Angelo Victoria Scroggins Bartender

Wisconsin
Muskego Jordan Kaminski College Student

In the premiere episode, 30 of the best home cooks in America will travel to Los Angeles to present their signature dishes to the distinguished judging panel: Ramsay (Gordon Ramsay Steak, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Gordon Ramsay BurGR), Bastianich (Del Posto, Osteria Mozza) and Elliot (Graham Elliot Bistro). The judges will taste for flavor, creativity and presentation. In order to earn a coveted white apron and move to the next round, the home cooks must have an immense passion for food and be determined to out-cook their rivals.

Once the Top Finalists are revealed, they will be put through their paces in a series of challenges designed to test their palates, food knowledge, passion and culinary skills. This season, the contestants will work in teams to prepare a hearty meal for more than 500 hungry servicemen and women on an army base, create an unforgettable three-course meal for a summer wedding, visit a local diner to prepare American classics, cook a romantic dinner for 14 couples, serve game-day favorites for hungry football fans and take command of a legendary Hollywood restaurant. With each new challenge, the pressure will mount as the Top Finalists compete for the coveted title of MASTERCHEF, a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize.

MASTERCHEF is produced by Shine America and One Potato Two Potato and is based on the format created by Franc Roddam and Shine. Shine International handles distribution for the MASTERCHEF format. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Paul Franklin, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers.

"Like" MASTERCHEF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion with #masterchef.

About One Potato Two Potato

Renowned for award-winning original programming, the company produces high-quality TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic, including the smash-hit HOTEL HELL, which was the highest-rated new network show of summer 2012 and whose second season returns to FOX in July; the blockbuster MASTERCHEF and new hit MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, both for FOX; major food competition series "Food Court Wars," the second season of which is currently airing; "Best New Restaurant," a new cable series premiering soon, as well as massive U.K. hit "Gordon Ramsay Behind Bars" and "Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape," for Channel 4; and "My Kitchen," for UKTV's Good Food Channel.

About Shine America

Shine America is the U.S. division of Shine Group, an award-winning global production and distribution organization with 30 production companies across 12 countries. Shine America is a leading television studio that creates inspired and compelling programming, including current unscripted series MASTERCHEF (FOX), MASTERCHEF JUNIOR (FOX), "The Biggest Loser" (NBC), "Minute to Win It" (GSN),"The Face" (Oxygen) and upcoming RIOT (FOX). Scripted series include Peabody Award-winning "The Bridge" (FX), as well as upcoming dramas GRACEPOINT (FOX) and "Utopia" (HBO).

Shine America incorporates several divisions, including unscripted format label Ardaban, which develops and distributes original content to the U.S. marketplace, including series "Beat The House" (HGTV) and "The One That Got Away" (TLC). The global Shine 360° division builds brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Shine Group's distribution arm, Shine International, distributes Shine America's extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries.