It appears as though Fox has big hopes for Gordon Ramsay’s MasterChef Junior and has already renewed the series for season 3 despite the fact that the production on season 2 has yet to begin!

Today, Fox officially ordered eight episodes of MasterChef Junior for season 3. This comes as a bit of a surprise, as season 2 of the series was just picked up back in December. Both season 2 and season 3 of MasterChef Junior will begin production this spring.

In a statement, Executive Vice President, Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company Simon Andreae said, “MasterChef Junior has proven itself to be the little show with a big bite – so big, we’ve picked it up for a third season.”

MasterChef Junior is hosted by award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay, who is also an executive producer of the series. He’s joined by his fellow judges, restaurateur and winemaker Joe Bastianich and chef Graham Elliot.

What sets the series apart from other cooking competitions? The contestants are kids between the ages of eight and 13. But don’t let their age fool you – these kids can out-cook many adults.

Andreae also echoed what sentiment has brought many fans to the series saying, “It’s incredible to see how unbelievably creative and skilled kids can be in the kitchen – some before they’ve even learned how to SPELL what they’re cooking! We can’t wait to meet the talent that our judges discover in the next two cycles.”

The first season of MasterChef Junior boasted an average viewership of 5.1 million viewers and ranked first in its time period among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Women 18-49/18-34, Men 18-49/18-34 and Teens. The series also averaged a +50% lift from its Live + Same Day to its Live +7 Adults 18-49 rating.

Will you be watching ‘MasterChef Junior’ when it returns for season 2 and season 3?

Photo credit: Michael Becker/ FOX