Apart from Justine Schofield, former contestants Khang Ong, Jess Liemantara, Marion Grasby and Sarah Todd would be guest judges during this season.
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That’s a great line-up there
it will be great to see new contestants who are starting out on their journey as amateur cooks instead of the same old former contestants returning.
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The article mentions one of the auction items on offer at her fundraiser dinner at Wesley Place in Melbourne CBD in March, as part of this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
At the fundraiser dinner, Levin flits between guests, chatting enthusiastically with hospo high-rollers, fans of the show and guests living with MND and their carers. Introducing the auction, she jokes that guests are only allowed to talk to (fellow judge Poh Ling) Yeow – who sits by her side – if they place a bid. Dinners at exclusive restaurants Yiaga and Chae go for several thousand dollars, as does the priceless spot at the MasterChef Australia semi-final dinner (“You’ll meet the judges, taste the food, feel the energy, and even have to sign an NDA,” the program promises).
The semi-final dinner is the service challenge in which each of the three remaining contestants have to create a three-course menu and cook for 30 guests, plus the four judges.
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The opening three minutes of the new season aired tonight during Australian Survivor, as a sneak peek.
TV Week interview with two of the 40 hopefuls for this season.
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Allen has also been a guest on international versions of the show in Quebec and Finland, only to discover they still revere the version which revitalised the franchise and the challenge team which sets the cooks.
“They’re great, but what we do is just unreal. The team that we have, the thought that goes into it, the skill of the individuals, the making those decisions, whether it be food-based, art-based, creative-based is just unbelievable,” he insists.
“It was really rewarding to go over and visit Finland. They said, ‘We always look at MasterChef Australia.'”
I hope this isn’t another super long season like Back to Win? Last season really started to lose momentum when it got to around the Top 12 and they started dragging it out. They could get away with it a bit more on an All-Stars season but I just don’t know on a returnee season.
I would prefer it a bit shorter and faster paced like the 2 previous seasons. Season 15 only had 18 contestants and season 16 had 22, both had about 10-12 less episodes than Back to Win (season 17) and other seasons.
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Next week’s season premiere would be all about auditions.
Sunday April 19
MasterChef Australia returns with auditions and 40 of the country’s best home cooks are ready. Tonight 20 cooks have 90 minutes to cook their dream dish in order to win one of the 10 aprons on offer.
Monday April 20
Another 20 home cooks enter the MasterChef kitchen to compete for 10 aprons on offer. For those who miss out, they learn there will be one final chance to cook for the last four aprons tomorrow.
Tuesday April 21
Tonight, the 20 remaining hopefuls have a second and final chance to cook their way into the competition. Just who will score themselves one of the final four places?
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Surely this isn’t AI. I thought they wrapped it up filming
Matt Preston predicted in 2019, that Meghan Markle would walk to the MCAU kitchen after her father in law, King Charles did a filming for MCAU in 2018
MasterChef Australia Welcomes Guest Judge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
MasterChef Australia is renowned for creating culinary legends, and today, a passionate foodie with global influence graced the kitchen.
As part of her first Australian visit since 2018, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, featured as a guest judge on the country’s most beloved cooking show.
Meghan mentored and guided our nation’s top home cooks alongside MasterChef Australia judges, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Meghan joins a prestigious list of guest judges this season, from returning legends like Maggie Beer, Curtis Stone and Rick Stein, to social media powerhouses Victoria Minell (@RecipesbyVictoria), Vincent Yeow Lim (@DimSimLim), and Lily Huynh (@BitesWithLily), and celebrity food lovers Robert Irwin, and Jimmy and Jane Barnes. MasterChef alumni legends will also be represented by Justine Schofield, Sarah Todd and Marion Grasby.
MasterChef Australia Season 18 features some of the most impressive amateur cooks the competition has ever seen.
Just who will flourish in such esteemed company? Tune in this season to see which cook will rise to the occasion and claim the ultimate prize.
MasterChef Australia.
Premieres On 10 And 10 Streaming At 7pm This Sunday, 19 April 2026.
Andy was on Maternity Leave. He sent a text to the crew revealed by Poh and Sofia on 10 News +
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Paternity.
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10 News Sydney report
10 News+ report
EDIT:
TV Blackbox understands Meghan’s surprise appearance was only confirmed earlier this week, with her fee rumoured to be around US$250,000, roughly AUD $380,000.
Wow, this is huge.
I didn’t expect that either.
Much like Katy Perry’s appearance on the show six years ago.