Adam Liaw's songs that set it off

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.