After weeks of speculation about whether Ten is happy with the current MasterChef line-up of judges, and if there would be a shake-up next year, a spokesperson confirmed in an exclusive statement to Woman’s Day they have already locked in the judging panel for next year – and all four judges will be back!
“There is absolutely no truth to this rumour. Judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli will all be returning to the MasterChef Australia kitchen in 2025 to serve up another delicious season of Australia’s favourite cooking show.”
INTERESTING TIMING?
The announcement comes just a week after former judges Gary Mehigan, 57, George Calombaris, 45, and Matt Preston, 62, reunited at the “Friends of George” lunch to raise funds for bowel cancer research on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula on May 26, prompting buzz they may be coming back to the reality hit!
The trio left the show in 2019 after 11 seasons amid rumours of stalled contract negotiations, but fans have called for their return. “MasterChef was crap when those three went,” commented one online.
And George did nothing to dampen the speculation he and his former co-stars may have been making a bid to return to the Ten reality show, gushing about working with his former co-stars again.
“It’s really nice, it’s like riding a bike with these guys. We have some great memories together,” he says. “It is nice to have the gang back together.”
NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY
All three stars are certainly making it clear they’re an entity again, recently filming two episodes of a hit cooking show together in India, where they are still huge names.
“They treasure the opportunity to get back together and do projects with each other,” says a source.
But Ten is adamant it won’t be on MasterChef Australia!
And now the network has officially named the panel for next year, it’s believed contract details and pay negotiations are underway with Andy, 36, Poh, 50, Sofia, 34, and Jean-Christophe, 63, behind the scenes. No doubt the stars are hoping executives cook up some good numbers!
