Meet MasterChef Australia’s new hosts

Back in July, we reported that all three of MasterChef Australia’s hosts quit in a pay dispute following months-long negotiations. Several names were floated as being potential replacements for the trio of Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris. The wait is over, as we now know who the judges will be for the upcoming season of the program.

At least one of the names will be familiar to fans of MasterChef Australia. Three Blue Ducks co-owner and chef Andy Allen, who won the 2012 season of the show, will be one of the three new faces. “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,” Allen said.

The other two judges are travel writer Melissa Leong and celebrity chef and TV presenter Jock Zonfrillo. Leong has written a handful of cookbooks, including co-authoring The Great Australian Cookbook. Zonfrillo is a Scottish-born chef who owns Restaurant Orana in Adelaide, and he has also been a guest chef on the show.