‘Significant changes’ coming to MasterChef Australia, Jock Zonfrillo says
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‘Significant Changes’ Coming to MasterChef: Jock Zonfrillo Reveals New Season Will Be Shorter, Have Fewer Entrants and No Returning ‘Favorites’
Big changes are in store for MasterChef Australia next year.
Channel 10’s hit cooking show is undergoing a makeover for the 2023 season, judge Jock Zonfrillo has revealed.
The Scottish chef, 46, told the Australian viewers can look forward to a shorter season with fewer participants.
Big changes are in store for MasterChef Australia next year, with Channel 10’s hit cooking show undergoing a makeover for its 2023 season, judge Jock Zonfrillo has revealed.
He also said the show will no longer bring back “favorites,” which has been the theme of past seasons.
The Melbourne-based restaurateur added that 2023 MasterChef will have a famous guest judge – possibly Gordon Ramsay.
Most of the details for next year’s season are not yet known, but Jock confirmed that the number of participants will be limited to 18, against 24.
The show is also scrapping the preliminaries, with the contestants entering directly into the competition instead, he revealed.
The Scottish chef, 46, told Australian viewers can look forward to a shorter season with fewer entrants. (Pictured with fellow judges Andy Allen, left, and Melissa Leong, center)
Jock joined the MasterChef jury in 2020, along with food critic Melissa Leong and restaurateur Andy Allen, after original judges George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston left the franchise.
MasterChef closed its Fans & Favorites season in July with a ratings triumph.
The Billie McKay winner’s announcement had 875,000 viewers on the five-city metro, and the episode drew a total of 755,000, an average of 815,000.
The Melbourne-based restaurateur added that 2023 MasterChef will have a famous guest judge – possibly Gordon Ramsay (pictured)
The cooking show doubled Big Brother’s audience to Seven (363,000) and also crushed Nine’s Australian Ninja Warrior: Record Breakers (448,000).
The MasterChef 2022 final saw returning favorites Billie and Sarah Todd go head to head for the title.
It was Billie who triumphed, taking home the $250,000 cash prize after a “stunning” final dish.
The franchise veterans were tasked with recreating an elaborate dessert made famous by guest judge Heston Blumenthal.