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In news that has shocked MasterChef fans across the country, hosts Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Colambaris have been axed from the hit show after 11 years on air.
In a statement released by Network Ten on Tuesday, chief executive officer Paul Anderson said: “Despite months of negotiation, 10 has not been able to reach a commercial agreement that was satisfactory to Matt, Gary and George.”
“Across 11 sensational seasons, MasterChef Australia has established itself as one of the most popular and respected cooking television series around the world,” the statement continued.
“For more than a decade, the iconic series has shaped and driven the Australian public’s passion for food and cooking, delivered iconic television moments, and made the culinary dreams of everyday home cooks come true. We would like to thank Gary, George and Matt for their contribution over the past 11 years,” he said.
“MasterChef Australia has always been about ordinary Australians doing extraordinary things for the love of food and we believe it is very important to continue that ethos.
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“Australia is full of remarkable cooking talent and we can’t wait to introduce another group – and the next generation of exceptional judges – in season 12 of MasterChef Australia next year.”
Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris won’t return to MasterChef next season.
(Source: Network Ten) (Credit: (Source: Network Ten))While the news that all THREE judges are leaving the show has surprised many, it didn’t come as quite the revelation that George was in the firing line.
The TV personality has been very publicly embroiled in a $7.8 million wage scandal after he was found to be underpaying his restaurant staff.
More than 20,000 people signed a petition in the past week, calling for the embattled judge to be fired from MasterChef after his company, MAdE Establishment, was fined $200,000, which many deemed to be a penalty that was too low.
George Calombaris,who was embroiled in an argument at the A-League Grand Final in 2017, won his appeal against a conviction in January 2018.
(Source: Getty Images) (Credit: (Source: Getty Images))And as you can imagine, Twitter had A LOT to say over the matter, with one user so aptly putting it: “Sniff Sniff. Ahh, I love the smell of irony in the morning!” while another wrote, “Irony level: Alanis.”
#MasterTheft, quickly became the top trending hashtag in the country and let’s just say, people have not held back.
Keep scrolling to read the most brutal and hilarious Twitter reactions to the MasterChef shake up!
While some of the public are finding this quite the joke, others have actually used Twitter to praise the judges for their fine work over the past decade.
“End of an era. You guys will be missed ☹️ Thank you for making @masterchefau what it is,” one fan wrote.
Only time will tell who will replace the MasterChef three, but first there’s a finale to get to!
