When is hit BBC show Masterchef moving to Digbeth in Birmingham?

BBC’s hit cooking show MasterChef - which has been exported to more than 40 countries - will be officially moving to Birmingham.

The plans for the MasterChef studios were approved by Birmingham City Council earlier this year - but Birmingham residents might want to know when will the shooting actually begin in the city.

Firstly, it will be located at the former Banana Warehouse on Fazeley Street. It’s a Grade II listed building which is lying vacant and is around 3767 sqft in size and right beside the canal. It falls under the Warwick Bar Conservation area - which the city council has wanted to repurpose for a long time.

The new studio, close to HS2 and the proposed new BBC Birmingham HQ at Typhoo Wharf, will be part of a wider masterplan for the Warwick Bar area of Digbeth.

The Banana Warehouse requires repairs before the MasterChef production team can move in. The repair works include a new roof, soundproofing measures, enlarged openings, and repairs to timbers and columns that support the canopy over the canal.

The main occupier of the building will be Shine TV, a television production company, which produces the show for several TV channels including BBC. Currently, they are located in London. They also produce Young MasterChefs, MasterChef: The Professionals, and Celebrity MasterChef and all four formats of MasterChef will be moving to Digbeth.

Currently, Late Night Lycett - a chat show hosted by Brummie comedian Joe Lycett - is shot live in Digbeth’s The Bond for Channel 4. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is also opening a film studio - The Digbeth Loc - where the Peaky Blinders film is expected to be sometime in 2023.

When will MasterChef move to Birmingham?

The shooting is expected to start in 2024 - which would mean that season 20 of the BBC1 show will be produced in Birmingham. So far, ShineTV has signed a six year deal for the venue. But no exact date for 2024 has been given.

The BBC show is currently on its 19th season and its eighth episode will air on April 27, 2023 at 8pm on BBC1. Since 2005, Gregg Wallace, 58, and John Torode, 57, have been co-presenting the BBC cooking show MasterChef.

What Birmingham City Council said

Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward said: “The BBC decision to switch MasterChef production to Birmingham is a huge vote of confidence in our creative sector and planning consent for the new studio in Digbeth is the next important step in this exciting project.

“Birmingham is a young, creative city and also a fantastic Food City. With five Michelin-starred restaurants, the world-famous Balti Triangle, a vibrant street food scene and a host of amazing independents, this is the perfect home for the BBC’s flagship culinary programme.

“2022 was Birmingham’s year and we are determined to build on the outstanding success of the Commonwealth Games, as we create jobs and opportunities for people across this city. We look forward to welcoming MasterChef to Digbeth.”