Melissa Leong has announced her exciting new role at Channel Ten after confirming her departure from MasterChef Australia.
The 41-year-old Leong announced on Monday that she had left the long-running cooking competition ‘on my terms’ after four years as a jury member.
But she won’t be completely out of the picture as the food critic is signed to Channel Ten and fronts a MasterChef spin-off series called Dessert Masters.
She will organize the Dessert Masters together with Swiss-French pastry chef Amaury Guichon.
The show will air ‘back-to-back’ with MasterChef next year, a Ten spokesperson said.
Melissa Leong (pictured left with Andy Allen, right, and the late Jock Zonfrillo, centre) has announced her exciting new role at Channel Ten after confirming her departure from MasterChef
Leong said on Monday her time on MasterChef Australia had been “truly magical”.
“My time as a co-host and judge on @MasterChefAU has been an amazing gift,” she wrote in a post on Instagram.
‘It’s huge to have been given the opportunity to learn and grow – and now to be given the confidence to expand and develop the MasterChef universe!
“Stepping away from the main show and entering #DessertMastersAU alongside the extraordinary @AmauryGuichon is another sweet gift indeed.”
The food critic is still under contract with Channel Ten and is helming a MasterChef spin-off series called Dessert Masters, alongside Swiss-French pastry prodigy Amaury Guichon (right)
“It is with great warmth and enthusiasm that I wish this new line-up of judges and presenters all the very best to make it their success, and great love for Andy Allen who is leading the way,” she continued.
“The changing of the guard is one that I always intended to embrace, and I’m so happy to be able to do so today, on my terms.
‘Along with all that joy, I also want to share with you (soon) some other projects I’ve been working on behind the scenes, so watch this space!
‘My thanks to our audiences for all your support, I can’t wait for you to see the new show. Always love and respect.’
Leong’s departure from MasterChef was announced on Monday – just a day before Channel Ten is set to unveil its 2024 programming during its Upfronts presentation.
The upcoming season will see the introduction of three new judges: series alum Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and food critic Sofia Levin.
The trio of newcomers will be joined by returning host Andy Allen.
The changing of the guard follows the tragic death of popular MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo, who died of natural causes on April 30.