MasterChef is adding Chef Aaron Sanchez to the Season 8 judging panel when the reality series returns to Fox this summer.
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The network has announced Sanchez will join Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi as the third judge next season.
Sanchez served as a guest judge last season and will also be featured in upcoming episodes of MasterChef Junior's fifth season, which currently airs Thursday nights at 8PM ET/PT.
Sanchez is a James Beard Award-winning chef and the owner of Mexican restaurant Johnny Sanchez, with locations in New Orleans and Baltimore.
He co-starred on Chopped and Chopped Junior and is the author of two cookbooks.
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MasterChef and former judge Graham Elliot parted ways in 2015 after five years. He had been both a judge and mentor on MasterChef as well as its Junior spinoff.
Elliot's departure was on the heels of Joe Bastianich's late 2014 exit from both reality series. Beginning in Season 6, Christina Tosi replaced Bastianich as a judge.
Casting for the series' next edition began in February of last year.
Season 7 of MasterChef wrapped in September 2016 with Shaun O'Neale defeating runners-up David Williams and Brandi Mudd in the finale.
MasterChef is produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato with Ramsay, Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Michael Brooks, Robin Ashbrook, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serving as executive producers.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski