The FIX takes on MasterChef Australia

So it was a little nerve-wracking when Ten invited me and my colleague Amy to take part in a cooking challenge to give us a taste of what it's like to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia. We headed to the new show's stunning and modern Sydney headquarters, where we were presented with a mystery box of ingredients — which included chicken, mushrooms, bread and a baffling green apple — and ordered to cook a delicious dish for the judges.

The stunning MasterChef kitchen

Which, let me tell you, is easier said than done. Even though we had access to gleaming pots and shining pans and every whiz-bang appliance we could dream of, it's tough to whip something up when you've got cameras in your face, judges sticking their noses into what you're doing, and a 30-minute time-limit. I don't envy the actual contestants, who have a book deal and a $100,000 prize on the line.

Sam and Amy hard at work

What was hidden inside our mystery box (left); Sam gets tip from judge George (right)

Our final dish (left); and the mess we left behind (right)

My cooking ability doesn't extend much further than boiling water and taking things out of packets, so I was a just a tad nervous when Amy and I eventually presented our dish — Thai-style chilli chicken — to the judges.

Judges Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris are a devilishly charismatic but imposing trio, with decades of the finest culinary experience between them. What would they make of our meal, which started out with the best of intentions but somehow turned into a salty, stewy heap garnished with a twig of parsley?

The judges take a nibble

Amy's and my heart pounded as each of the judges had a nibble. To our surprise, they didn't instantly hate it — Matt complimented the "salty rush". George threw the parsley back at us. And Gary declared that if we were real contestants, we wouldn't have made it to the top 20... but if we brush up on our skills, we could make it next year. That's good enough for us!

But the judges weren't so kind to everyone: several other dishes were torn to pieces, and some of them they refused to even taste. (Ouch.) The ultimate winner of the challenge proved to be a toasted sandwich, hinting that simplicity is the key to becoming a MasterChef.

From what I've seen so far of MasterChef, it looks like a compelling reality series in the style of The Biggest Loser. The three judges are so charming that I'd watch the show just to see more of them, but I can't wait to see what they'll make of the hapless wannabe chefs.

Before its premiere, check out a sneak peek of the show here:

MasterChef Australia premieres on Network Ten on Monday, April 27, at 7.30pm. Head to TVFIX for more airtimes.