They film MasterChef at a key police center: 'They've brought our work to a halt'

This Tuesday, June 24, the final of RTVE's popular gastronomic show, MasterChef 13, was recorded. For this, the Canillas Police Complex (Madrid), one of the most important headquarters of the Police, was chosen as the filming location, as reported in advance by Escudo Digital. According to police sources, the filming and its preparations have "hindered" the agents' routine work.

According to these sources, the deployment carried out for the filming doesn't correspond to a real police operation. Apparently, helicopters and horses have been used, which they consider "is not any promotion for the Police." One of the helicopters landed on the roof of the general logistics sub-directorate.

The final of the 13th season of MasterChef will be broadcast on Televisión Española next Monday, June 30. Last Tuesday, Canillas Police Complex was visited by the jury: Pepe Rodríguez, Samantha Vallejo-Nágera, and Jordi Cruz. It has also been possible to see in a video how some contestants descended from a helicopter, which landed in one of the facilities.

This audiovisual production at the police headquarters has caused some discomfort and critical comments from the staff. "The day-to-day work is hindered in a place where the judicial, information, and scientific police are; it's as if we had nothing to do," an officer told Escudo Digital.

"Bringing helicopters and horses, with the number of people working here, is not any promotion for the Police. For setting up operations, they don't carry out deployments of this magnitude," these sources pointed out. They have also criticized that "Police are denied money and resources for investigations while they prepare a whole show and deployment for a filming".

This television filming at Canillas Police Complex has taken place in a year when police unions have pointed to the Interior Ministry on several occasions.

The 13th Season of MasterChef

MasterChef is one of the most successful Spanish television shows in terms of audience. The production cost has increased as the seasons and formats of the gastronomic show have progressed. As El Confidencial Digital reported in advance, RTVE's Board of Directors authorized a budget of €7.4 million for this season.

The show produced by the company Shine Iberia has already decided on the four finalists who will face each other next June 23. After last Monday's semifinal, Ismael, Gabriela, Bea, and Ana have managed to qualify. However, Elena did not succeed, after having auditioned up to six times and being eliminated and brought back in the current season.

The previous gala featured the winner of the fourth season of MasterChef Celebrity, Tamara Falcó, as a guest. The only one who convinced the jury at first in the semifinal was Ismael; then it was Gabriela who secured her place. Bea, Ana, and Elena put everything on the line, and in the end, the first two remained in the show.

MasterChef Spain has been airing on La 1 since 2013. The culinary show is hosted by Eva González and features a jury made up of Pepe Rodríguez Rey, Jordi Cruz, and Samantha Vallejo-Nágera. Whoever manages to triumph in the final will receive €100,000 in cash, in addition to the show's trophy.

This June 30, the final of season 13 of MasterChef will take place. However, the euphoria for the last broadcast of this season is already overshadowed by its "controversial" filming in a key space for the National Police.