Food
Melissa Leong’s Surprise Exit from MasterChef Australia: The Inside Story
Sad News for all MasterChef Australia fans!
Melissa Leong, a high-profile food critic and MasterChef Australia judge since 2019, won’t be returning as a judge for the 16th season of MasterChef Australia 2024.
According to the broadcaster, though she has been pulled out from the popular Channel Ten program but remains an important part of the television network.
Leong joined MasterChef with co-hosts Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo in 2019 after the abrupt exit of Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris caused by a dispute over exclusivity and pay.
Melissa Leong Clarifies Her Departure from MasterChef AU
In a lengthy social media post, the celebrated chef thanked the network for its continued support while clarifying that she was not axed from the program as reported, but rather she was “stepping away” on her own terms.
“My time as co-host and judge on @MasterChefAU has been a great gift. To have been given the opportunity to learn and grow – and now to be given the vote of confidence to expand and evolve the MasterChef universe is huge!”
Leong wrote alongside a Season 2 promo photo of her on Ten’s food program, Dessert Masters Australia, which she will co-host with pastry chef Amaury Guichon.
“Stepping away from the main show and into #DessertMastersAU alongside the extraordinary @AmauryGuichon, is yet another sweet present indeed.”
The major shake-up sees Leong replaced by 2009 MasterChef runner-up Poh Ling Yeow and Michelin star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, who will appear alongside returning star Andy Allen and food critic Sofia Levin as a fourth judge.
“It is with great warmth and enthusiasm that I wish this new line-up of judges and hosts all the best in making it theirs, and big love to @andyallencooks for leading the way,” Leong added.
“The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I’m so glad to do that, on my terms, today.”
Leong said she was also “excited” for what the next chapter holds as she has been “working on behind the scenes” projects she can soon share with fans.
“My gratitude to our audience for all your support, can’t wait for you to see the new show. Love and respect always,” she concluded.
Channel 10’s Reassurance: Melissa Leong’s Ongoing Role in the MasterChef Australia Family
Channel 10 has since released a statement on her surprise departure, in which they insisted Leong will remain a member of the MasterChef family.
“Melissa Leong remains a key member of the MasterChef Australia family. Melissa is set to return for a second season of Dessert Masters in 2024, alongside fellow judge and pastry prodigy Amaury Guichon,” the statement read.
“Next year, MasterChef Australia and Dessert Masters will air back-to-back, therefore each show needs its own distinct style and personality and its own unique hosting team.”
Jock Zonfrillo’s Tragic Passing
The line-up was rocked in April this year when Zonfrillo died suddenly on the eve of the show’s new season.
Zonfrillo was found dead by police in a Melbourne hotel room, and it was later determined he died of natural causes. He was 46.
“Four years ago, the three of us stood on a precipice and leapt together,” she wrote in tribute to Zonfrillo.
“I could never have guessed how much of an impact your arrival in my life would have, or that we would be saying goodbye to you so soon. You were always supposed to be the bulletproof one who outlived us all.”
Recently, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was in the news to be promoted as a judge for the 16th season of the MasterChef AU 2024, however, we just found out that it was just a rumor.
Dessert Masters: Leong’s New Culinary Adventure
Channel Ten’s newest program, Dessert Masters, is also hosted by Leong and will premiere on November 12. The MasterChef spin-off runs for a far shorter duration and is not distributed into international markets (MasterChef is broadcast in 60 countries).
A Network 10 spokesman said the decision was due to the way Leong’s two programs were scheduled.
MasterChef is one of the most expensive productions on Australian TV – it is estimated to cost the network about $30 million a season. The hosts are estimated to be paid about $1 million per season.