We officially have our first look at the upcoming season of MasterChef Australia.
The new teaser trailer, which you can watch above, promises that “there’s never been a season like this,” so we’re sure you can understand our excitement!
The 2024 season of MasterChef Australia – which will be the show’s 16th season overall – will be the first since the untimely death of judge Jock Zonfrillo. It will also be the first time Andy Allen judges without Jock or Melissa Leong by his side; it’s been confirmed Melissa won’t return.
In a statement issued by Channel Ten, Andy acknowledged, “After an extremely difficult year in 2023, and upon reflection, the decision to return to the series is not one I took lightly.”
Joining Andy this year is none other than Poh Ling Yeow.
“MasterChef Australia is where my food story began, so this feels like coming home,” the fan-favourite and Season One runner-up said when the news was first announced in October 2023.
“A big part of me will always be standing on the other side with the contestants and I hope when they look at me, they see proof you don’t have to win to win.”
Of course, 2024 won’t be the first time Poh revisits the MasterChef kitchen. Since the first season, she’s appeared as a guest judge on the show multiple times and was a contestant for the 2020 all-stars season, MasterChef: Back To Win.
Along with Andy and Poh, two others will also join MasterChef Australia as judges in 2024: food writer Sofia Levin and French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.
“The first season of MasterChef Australia aired the same year I started writing about food… Becoming a judge on MasterChef feels like two parallel paths converging, and I am giddy with excitement at the people I get to stand beside,” Sofia gushed.
Jean-Christophe, who’s been awarded multiple Michelin Stars and is ready to share his knowledge with an Australian audience, was equally as excited to join the MasterChef family.
“Australian cuisine has a remarkable reputation on the world stage, and it will be a great privilege to meet and mentor the country’s top home cooks on their journeys to greatness,” he said.
It’s also been confirmed that Jamie Oliver will guest judge on MasterChef in 2024 for two whole weeks; the longest appearance a guest chef has ever made in the series.
“Returning to the MasterChef kitchen and spending time in Australia makes me very happy,” Jamie said.
“I think MasterChef Australia is the best food show in the world – amazing production values and an incredible story of transformation.
“I love seeing how the contestants constantly surprise themselves about what they can achieve. More than that, MasterChef connects Aussies to food and the joy of cooking and that can only be a positive thing.”
So, what is happening to Melissa Leong?
Don’t worry! She won’t be going very far. Melissa confirmed in an Instagram post that she’s not leaving Channel Ten for good. She will be joining Amaury Guichon as a judge on Dessert Masters which is set to air back to back with the 2024 season of MasterChef.
“The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I’m so glad to do that, on my terms, today.”
The new season of MasterChef Australia premieres Monday, April 22 at 7:30pm on 10 and 10Play.
