Think people are reading too much into it. It’s like suggesting that because Gary did an interview with the Nine newspapers, it suggests him or the trio have a Nine show in the works
From mediaweek today:
MasterChef: The Next Generation
The market would be expecting 10 to reveal who will be replacing Gary , George and Matt at next month’s Upfront. Will that happen?
“That is a million dollar question.” Anderson hesitated after the unintentional pun, he added there will be no announcement before then.
“We have been through an extensive process [looking for new judges] and the hope is we can announce them at Upfronts.
Beverley McGarvey told The Australian in a feature interview today that the new judges would be revealed at the upfronts on October 10.
October 10 is about right to announce the new judges. Its after the Royal Melbourne show (Sat, 21 Sep 2019 – Tue, 1 Oct 2019)
Filming for the next season uselly starts after Royal Melbourne Show
Herald Sun is tipping that Jock Zonfrillo, 2012 MasterChef winner Andy Allen and food writer Melissa Leong will host season 12. Zonfrillo hosted Seven’s Restaurant Revolution in 2015 but has also been guest chef on MC three times.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/masterchef-australias-new-hosts-tipped-to-be-two-chefs-and-a-food-writer/news-story/e2da4a48c8d071780a312d35765f1779
10’s 2020 upfronts is next Thursday so an announcement should not be too far away.
EDIT: add article link
2 Likes
If this is true then I think that ten have played it very smart. Three lower profile stars with cred that can build the show again rather than hog the spotlight. I love these choices! They are definitely younger, fresher and more
Dynamic as well…might just be the shot in the arm that this show needs.
4 Likes
Reckon the first interviews with some (if not all) new judges as well.
EDIT: looks like the announcement has been delayed slightly.
https://twitter.com/ACBucklow/status/1182023384789479424
Judges confirmed as Jock Zonfrillo , Melissa Leong and Andy Allen
MasterChef: Back To Win ’, a season which will see contestants from all past 11 seasons of ‘MasterChef Australia’ back in the kitchen battling it out for the top prize.
2 Likes
Good news.
Herald Sun got it right this time.
Also marks the return of All Stars concept which last aired during the 2012 London Olympics.
Why does everything have to be an All Star Or Celebrity thing on 10 recently?
1 Like
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3afgFeH6qx/
I’m stoked to announce I’ll be extending my role in the @MasterChefAU family as official Judge in 2020.
I’m joining @fooderati & @zonfrillo who are both legends and I can’t wait to go on this journey with them.
This is really humbling and has come full circle for me. To win the show back in 2012, then to throw myself into the big world of hospitality, be recognised by the industry and accepted by chefs I admired, to now take on a role as Judge of Australia’s best cooking show is just one of the coolest things ever. So pumped!
Melissa wrote on her Instagram:
It is with great excitement that I share with you possibly the biggest news of my career, to date. I’m thrilled to confirm the whispers happening out there and say YES! I will indeed be part of the new guard for MasterChef Australia!
I could never have dreamed that I would be asked to be part of the next chapter of this great Australian legacy, and it is with deep respect and appreciation for everything that has come before, that we take our first steps into the new.
Thank you to everyone for their belief and support and a huge HELLO to those of you I am yet to know! Goodbyes are hard, and greeting new people isn’t always easy, but bringing everything I have to the table is a promise I make to you, and one I plan to keep. Mx
Short message from Jock:
It’s a privilege to be asked, & I can’t wait to get in the kitchen with Melissa and Andy to uncover Australia’s next MasterChef!
Not sure on the Back to win format…Seems like something that would rely on seeing how far the contestants have come from their series…A Series that would have been good with Matt, George & Gary. But we’ll see. I’m prepared to be wrong 
MasterChef Australia Adds Three New Judges To Its Winning Recipe.
Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong And Andy Allen Enter The Kitchen.
Network 10’s MasterChef Australia , the iconic cooking program that rewrote the recipe for must-see TV, is delighted to announce the addition of three new judges in 2020.
Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen will take the helm of the show that celebrates food and the love of food.
Jock, Melissa and Andy will be joined in the MasterChef Australia kitchen by a delicious assortment of the world’s best chefs, including Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal and Curtis Stone, to serve up the 12th helping of MasterChef Australia .
And in 2020, the traditional MasterChef Australia recipe will boast some new ingredients when the best of the best from the past 11 seasons return to the kitchen in MasterChef Australia – Back To Win .
Network 10 Chief Content Officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “In a nation obsessed with food, we are thrilled to welcome Jock, Melissa and Andy as judges to MasterChef Australia .
“Their combined culinary credentials coupled with their passion and sheer joy for food, and their relentless enthusiasm to explore ingredients, preparation and cooking methods ensures we are in for a real treat.”
Endemol Shine Australia CEO, Carl Fennessy, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jock, Melissa and Andy to the MasterChef Australia family. Jock’s culinary resume across Australia and the United Kingdom puts him in the very elite of contemporary chefs. Melissa’s diverse palate and incredible food knowledge will test our contestants in every way, and Andy brings with him a wealth of experience as a MasterChef Australia winner who’s become one of Australia’s hottest chefs.
“We’re excited to welcome this new generation of judges to the MasterChef kitchen.”
MEET THE JUDGES
Jock Zonfrillo is the owner and chef of three-hatted Restaurant Orana, and Bistro Blackwood in Adelaide. Jock was named Australia’s Hottest Chef in 2018 and has hosted television shows including Nomad Chef , Restaurant Revolution and Chef Exchange , as well as appearing in the MasterChef Australia kitchen as a guest chef across three seasons.
Jock said: “When I think of MasterChef Australia , I think of discovering new talented cooks with fresh ideas and creativity.
“There hasn’t been a season yet where I haven’t been surprised by just how talented some of the undiscovered cooks are, so much so, that many of them have worked in my kitchen over the years. I can’t wait to get in that kitchen.”
Few in Australia can boast the culinary credentials of Melissa Leong. An accomplished food and travel writer, food media consultant, radio broadcaster, television presenter, MC and cookbook editor, this first-generation Singaporean Australian isn’t afraid to consume anything at least once.
On being chosen as a judge, Melissa said: “It goes without saying, that it is an honour to be passed the baton and asked to help bring the next chapter to life on a show like MasterChef Australia .
“It came as a huge surprise for me, and is, without a doubt the opportunity of a lifetime. I am really looking forward to getting stuck in!”
MasterChef Australia alumni and season four winner Andy Allen is the epitome of what television’s greatest cooking show is all about.
Since winning MasterChef Australia Andy has travelled Australia and the world pursuing his culinary curiosity. He’s also become co-owner of the Three Blue Ducks, taking on the role of head chef at their Rosebery restaurant, which went on to be awarded a Chef’s Hat - making Andy the first MasterChef Australia contestant to be awarded the highly sought after honour. Andy and the Ducks have since opened a restaurant in Brisbane and are soon to launch another in Melbourne.
Andy said: “I entered this competition as a contestant in 2012, somehow I won it and then I went out into the big, bad wide world of hospitality. To be asked to be a judge – and to come full circle back to MasterChef Australia – is really flattering and really special.
“I’m stoked because it means that I’ve done the hard work to be here. You don’t ask Joe Blow to be a judge on MasterChef Australia .”
On MasterChef Australia – Back To Win , Jock said: “Having watched this group create their own restaurants, their own businesses and become great chefs in their own right has been amazing.
“But now to see them back, pitting their knowledge against each other in the MasterChef kitchen, sets the stage for the most exciting season yet.”
Melissa added: “Back To Win – it says it all, right? This is the who’s who of MasterChef Australia ’s favourites from seasons past. This season, they have an opportunity to show everyone what they’ve been up to and where they are at, in their food evolution.
“They know how this game works, so they should be prepared to waste no time in showing us what they’ve got.”
Jock, Melissa and Andy will commence filming MasterChef Australia – Back To Win in Melbourne in early 2020. It will air on 10 and WIN Network in 2020.
Stay tuned to see who will return to the kitchen for MasterChef Australia – Back To Win .
The timing of commencement of filming suggests season 12 may not air in May as in previous seasons. The show usually began filming in October of the year prior with top 50 auditions, then in November at the MC kitchen as the top 24 stage officially began.
Two points:
- The main reason why the Matt, Gary and George trio was so successful was the chemistry they had both with each other and as a judging panel. As such, it’s crucial that Zock, Melissa and Andy have a similar chemistry as well otherwise this ain’t going to work.
- I don’t like the idea of them being introduced to the audience through an ‘All Stars’ series for two reasons. Firstly, it’s a series which is more suited to the original trio being involved (as Travis previously said). Secondly, they’re already going to be compared and scrutinized to Matt, Gary and George enough without the show (probably) constantly reminding viewers of them through say flashbacks to what happened when [said contestant] last appeared on MasterChef
1 Like
I like the idea of an all stars season and I like the judges
1 Like
Agreed. I’ll admit that I was worried but I’m pleasantly surprised and very much looking forward to it now.
1 Like
Yeah I haven’t watched Masterchef in years but will probably check this season out. I think its a clever way to get back the old viewers they have lost.
1 Like
