With the culinary bar set high in 2014, the heat will be on when MasterChef Australia returns for **. A fresh group of home cooks will eagerly tackle challenges that will see one of them take home the title of Australia’s next MasterChef.After once again seeking out the most passionate and talented ** cooks from around the country, Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston host the judges’ auditions to unearth the Top 24 to join them in the MasterChef Australia kitchen.From different backgrounds, and with different experience, skills and cultural influences, there is one thing that unites the group – their passion for food. All 24 contestants h*e stepped away from life as they know it and are walking a new path towards a future in food.Leading lights of the industry including Heston Blumenthal, Massimo Bottura, Sat Bains, Maggie Beer, Marco Pierre White, Curtis Stone and Marcus Wareing will join in to ramp up the petition.Some f*ourite contestants from MasterChef Australia past will return – including Poh Ling Yeow, Justine Schofield, Callum Hann, Kylie Millar, Andy Allen, Ben Milburne and Hayden Quinn – along with hot local chefs such as Sydney’s Anna Polyviou, Melbourne’s Josh Pelham, South Australia’s Duncan Welgemoed and Queensland’s Nick Holloway.The petition could not be tighter or the stakes any higher. Along with the title of Australia’s MasterChef, the winner’s prize will include $250,000, work experience in some of Australia’s best kitchens and an Alfa Romeo Giulietta.All contestants will join the ranks of MasterChef Australia alumni, more than 70% of whom now work in the food industry.As working chefs, Gary and George will encourage and challenge the contestants to push the boundaries further and extend their skills beyond that of ** home cooks.A renowned food writer, Matt will share his immeasurable food knowledge and urge the contestants to surprise and delight the judges.This season also sees long-time friend of MasterChef Australia, Vue de monde’s Shannon Bennett, bee a regular. Taking on the role of guest mentor, Shannon will guide the ** cooks through immunity challenges, coaching them toward success.Fan f*ourite, the MasterClass, is back with Gary, George and Matt – plus some very special guests – donning their chef whites and aprons to give contestants the day off. Sharing inside knowledge, it might just be what the contestants need to cook themselves out of trouble.Above all else, MasterChef Australia will be all about ordinary people cooking extraordinary food.