February 13, 2013

The Heat is on as THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW Partners with Maple Leaf Foods Inc. to Find the Next MARILYN Cooking Expert

– Following a nationwide search, six Canadian hopefuls take part in daily challenges to become the next MARILYN cooking expert, Feb. 18 - 22 –
– Master chefs Rocco DiSpirito, Chuck Hughes, and Lynn Crawford to appear as guest judges –
– Viewers can vote online for their favourite chef at marilyn.ca –

	The six Canadian hopefuls vying for the top spot as MARILYN’s next cooking expert (L-R: Stephanie Gosselin, Elysia Vandenhurk, Lester Austin, Kirk McLean, Joanna Tymkiw, and Lorraine Powell)

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/ZaCLW0

TORONTO (February 13, 2013) – CTV’s THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW announced today that Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has signed on as culinary sponsor for the show’s “The Search for the Next Marilyn Cooking Expert” casting call. After a nation-wide callout, six self-proclaimed master chefs take part in a week-long (Feb. 18 - 22) series of intense culinary challenges using Maple Leaf Foods Inc. products. On Friday, Feb. 22, Canada’s queen of daytime, Marilyn Denis will announce who the judges and viewers at home have chosen as the new cooking expert live on THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW. Viewers can also participate in the challenge on Feb. 21, by voting online for their favourite hopeful; visit marilyn.ca for details. THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW airs live Monday-Friday at 10 a.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca, and CTV Mobile, and then again at 11 a.m. ET on CTV Two, and on demand at marilyn.ca.

**Media Note** Download photos for THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW at BellMediaPR.ca.

“An iconic Canadian brand, Maple Leaf Foods is the perfect partner to help us find the next MARILYN Cooking Expert,” said Mary Kreuk, Vice-President, Brand Partnerships, Bell Media. “Maple Leaf products can be found in kitchens across the country, and this initiative will demonstrate even more exciting ways for Canadians to incorporate these much-loved products into their everyday meals.”

“Partnering with THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW is the perfect fit for our brand,” said Stephen Graham, Chief Marketing Officer, Maple Leaf Foods. “Marilyn Denis and Christine Cushing deliver great insight on the latest food and health trends, and we are pleased to join them in celebrating up-and-coming Canadian talent and showcasing Maple Leaf’s iconic products and brands.”

Hosted by MARILYN resident chef Christine Cushing, “The Search for the Next Marilyn Cooking Expert” features Maple Leaf Foods chef Shannon Brubacher as a regular judge on each of the challenges. The finalists cook and prepare dishes with Maple Leaf Foods Inc.’s leading consumer brands, including Dempster’s®, Maple Leaf Prime®, and Olivieri®.

Each daily challenge also features a special guest judge, including award-winning chef and TV personality Rocco DiSpirito (Feb. 18); MARILYN resident chef Roger Mooking and design expert Amanda Forrest (Feb. 19); French-Canadian chef and restaurateur Chuck Hughes (Feb. 20); and Gemini Award-nominated TV personality/chef Lynn Crawford (Feb. 21). The new cooking expert will be announced live on THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW (Feb. 22).

The initiative kicks off a year-long partnership with Maple Leaf Foods Inc., which also includes in-show segments and digital integration.

The six Canadian hopefuls vying for the top spot as MARILYN’s next cooking expert are:

Lorraine Powell, 53
(Richmond Hill, ON)
Occupation: Certified Personal Chef and full-time cooking school instructor.

Kirk McLean, 30
(Whitby, ON)
Occupation: Former personal chef for the New Zealand Ambassador of the European Union, and currently working as a home chef for his wife Jennifer and their nine-month-old son.

Lester Austin, 42
(Aurora, ON)
Occupation: Trained chef and lifestyle coach.

Stephanie Gosselin, 27
(Montreal, QC)
Occupation: Publicity sales rep and at home cook.

Joanna Tymkiw, 31
(Toronto, ON)
Occupation: Contributor to food magazines and blogs.

Elysia Vandenhurk, 26
(Saskatoon, SK)
Occupation: Entrepreneur and Red Seal chef.

Social Media Links:

Twitter:
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@TheMarilynShow
@MarilynDenisCTV
@MapleLeafFoods
Joanna Tymkiw: @B_A_T_B_D
Lorraine Powell: @powell_lorraine
Stephanie Gosselin: @steph_gosselin
Lester Austin: @lesteraustin
Kirk McLean: @KMKiwi
Elysia Vandenhurk: @threefarmers
#MarilynExpertSearch

Facebook:
Facebook.com/ctv
Facebook.com/MarilynDenis
Facebook.com/MapleLeafFoods

About Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
Maple Leaf Foods is a leading Canadian meat, meals and bakery company committed to delivering nutritious and innovative food products to consumers around the world. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, the Company employs approximately 19,500 people at its operations across Canada and in the United States, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.mapleleaf.com.

About THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW
Hosted by Marilyn Denis and broadcast live before a studio audience, THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW is a daily entertainment and lifestyle talk show featuring Canadian and international celebrities and experts, established and emerging alike. Celebrities who have appeared on THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW include Sir Elton John, Diane Keaton, Bradley Cooper, Shania Twain, Hugh Jackman, Michael Bublé, Lionel Richie, Gene Simmons, and many more. Executive produced by Michelle Crespi, THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW airs live Monday-Friday at 10 a.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca, and CTV Mobile, and then again at 11 a.m. ET on CTV Two, and on demand at marilyn.ca. Fans can also watch Marilyn on the weekend with THE BEST OF THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW, airing Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET on CTV and Sundays at 3 p.m. ET on CTV Two (check local listings).

To be a part of THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW live studio audience, get the latest additions to the guest lineup, and to join Marilyn’s BFF Network to win exclusive prizes, fans can head to marilyn.ca.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 10 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at ctv.ca.


– CTV –

For more information, please contact:
Jacqui VanSickle, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.5091 or jacqueline.vansickle@bellmedia.ca
Aviva Sokolsky, CTV and CTV Two, 416.384.2186 or aviva.sokolsky@bellmedia.ca

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