Returning for its mammoth 14th season, MasterChef Australia is back with a bang, with returning contestants set to battle against everyday home cooks in MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites.
The new season premieres Monday, April 18 on 10 and 10Play at 7:30pm.
Back for their third main series, judges Jock Zonfrillo, Andy Allen and Melissa Leong will challenge contestants, thrilled to watch as the Favourites carve out the kitchen against the next batch of hopefuls.
Not to be outdone by the top 24, the MasterChef kitchen will once again play host to the best and brightest chefs from Australia and overseas, each arriving to challenge, mentor and set exciting challenges.
Read More: MasterChef Fans V Faves: Everything you need to know about the contestants
This year’s impressive catalogue includes the return of fan favourite Adriano Zumbo, ready to set a waffle challenge to whet the appetite. Shannon Bennet returns to run the floor in a fiery service challenge, before challenging with his own mystery box, and Curtis Stone keeps contestants on their toes with fast and fancy food before a chance at immunity.
The Judges
Jock Zonfrillo – A father of four, Jock is proud of his not-for-profit The Orana Foundation which he founded in 2016. The Foundation’s mission is to shine a light on Australia’s Indigenous food, bringing incredible native ingredients to the world, whilst celebrating Indigenous culture and supporting Indigenous communities. Jock has also received global recognition, awarded the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize in July 2018. In August 2021, Jock released his best-selling biography Last Shot.
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 eat anything at least once. Beginning her career in television with Netflix’ The Chefs’ Line in 2016, she is currently a judge on MasterChef Australia where she continues to draw on that human connection to celebrate the stories of
others, through that great equaliser of all people: food.
Andy Allen – MasterChef Australia alumni and season four winner Andy Allen is the epitome of what television’s greatest cooking show is all about. Andy has also presented television shows including Andy And Ben Eat Australia, Andy And Ben Eat The World, Farm To Fork and Three Blue Ducks. In 2020, Andy became a judge on MasterChef Australia alongside Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo. Andy’s love for food revolves around knowing where his produce comes from, being as sustainable as possible and making sure each dish is bursting with flavour.
MasterChef Australia judges
The Contestants
The Favourites:
Aldo Ortado – Season 10
Alvin Quah – Season 2
Billie McKay – Season 7
Christina Batista – Season 5
John Carasig – Season 7
Julie Goodwin – Season 1
Michael Weldon – Season 3
Mindy Woods – Season 4
Minoli De Silva – Season 13
Sarah Todd – Season 6
Sashi Cheliah – Season 10
Tommy Pham – Season 13
The Fans:
Ali Stoner – Artist
Chris Tran – Marketing Consultant
Daniel Lamble – Firefighter
Dulan Hapuarachch – Financial Entrepreneur
Harry Tomlinson – Coffee Roaster
Jenn Lee – Dentist
Keyma Vasquez Montero – Stay at home Mum
Matt Landmark – Teacher
Max Krapivsky – Osteopath
Melanie Persson – PhD Student
Montana Hughes – TikTok Influencer
Steph Woon – Banking Analyst
The Prize
This season, the winner stands to walk away with not only a life-changing experience and the title of MasterChef Australia 2022, but $250,000 in prize money.
What to expect
Each week the series will kick off with an exciting mystery box challenge on a Monday, from where the bottom four will cook for their place during Tuesday’s pressure test, and someone will be sent home.
The team challenge hits screens on Wednesday, with both Favourites and Fans battling against each other for their chance to cook for immunity on Thursday. With immunity secured for one, it’s time for the remaining contestants to take to the stage on a Sunday evening for the dreaded elimination, where another talented cook is farewelled.
Masterclasses remain, peppered throughout the season with special guests including Etta’s Rosheen Kaul and the team behind Australia’s best pies, Country Cob Bakery.
Elusive immunity pins are on offer, but they’ll have to beat acclaimed chef Matt Stone to claim victory, and MasterChef Australia: Back To Win favourite and dessert King Reynold Poernomo sets a pressure test six years in the making.
UK superstar Clare Smyth has no less than three Michelin Stars to her name, and her honey and cherry service challenge will leave you wanting more.
Alla Wolf-Tasker returns for a pressure test on the road, while seafood guru Josh Niland and Australia’s favourite Maggie Beer both make their way back into the kitchen. Keeping contestants on their toes with the latest trends and techniques, they are just the tip of the iceberg in a list of exceptional chefs entering the MasterChef kitchen.
MasterChef Australia is Australia’s most successful cooking competition. In 2021 the series took home the AACTA Award for Best Reality Program – its fifth win in the highly coveted category.
MasterChef Australia is a cooking competition like no other, it transforms lives, inspires the nation, and impresses the world’s best chefs. Season 14, MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites, is set to turn up the Richter with every single member of the top 24 stopping at nothing to hold the coveted trophy.
MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites premieres Monday, April 18 on 10 and 10Play.