Adam Liaw's songs that set it off

Take 5

Who knew cooking competitions would take over Australian television?Back in 2010, the finale for the second season of MasterChef became the most watched non-sporting event of that year. And the winner? Adam Liaw.

He'd been working in Japan when he decided to enter the TV cooking comp, and he quickly became a firm favourite. After his win, everything changed. He published cookbooks, became the host of Destination Flavour on SBS, started a family, took people on foodie tours, and now hosts The Cook Up. Full disclosure – I’ve been on it and it was a dream come true.

Adam has also joined me to Take 5 – twice. He was so brilliant the first time in 2013, I invited him back, six years later. And his theme? Songs that set it off.

Adam’s had a lot of big, life-altering moments that have all happened in the public eye, so I wanted to find out about the other turning points in his life. When the cameras weren’t rolling.

Whether it was playing tennis air guitar in a childhood bedroom, or bonding with his wife over a new fave, this Take 5 will make you love Adam Liaw even more.

• Starship – ‘We Built This City’
• Smashing Pumpkins – ‘Bullet With Butterfly Wings’
• Beastie Boys – ‘Ch-Check It Out’
• Montaigne – ‘I'm A Fantastic Wreck’
• Wiley, Stefflon Don & Sean Paul – ‘Boasty [Ft. Idris Elba]’

This episode was originally broadcast in 2019.