Category: Masterchef Australia

  • MasterChef’s Andy Allen reveals ‘what hurts him most’ about his last ever meeting with co-star Jock Zonfrillo just hours before his death

    MasterChef’s Andy Allen reveals ‘what hurts him most’ about his last ever meeting with co-star Jock Zonfrillo just hours before his death

    Andy Allen has opened up about his final meeting with Jock Zonfrillo, revealing that he saw the late celebrity chef just a couple of hours before he died. 

    Jock, who was found dead aged 46 in a Melbourne hotel room in 2023, co-judged alongside Andy on hit cooking show MasterChef Australia from 2020 up until his death.

    In a sit-down interview with 7NEWS Spotlight, Andy, 37, got candid about the last time he saw his friend, revealing he met Jock for lunch the day before his body was discovered.

    ‘I’ve got hairs standing up already,’ he told Liz Hayes as he looked back on his and Jock’s final meal together, a moment he reflects back on a lot.

    Andy went on to reveal that he had no idea that there was anything amiss during his last meeting with the celebrity chef.  

    ‘That’s the thing that hurts the most,’ he told Liz with tears in his eyes, ‘(be)cause it was so sudden.’

    MasterChef’s Andy Allen reveals ‘what hurts him most’ about his last ever meeting with co-star Jock Zonfrillo just hours before his death

    Andy Allen (pictured) has opened up about his final meeting with Jock Zonfrillo, revealing that he saw the late celebrity chef just a couple of hours before he passed away

    Jock (left), who was found dead aged 46 in a Melbourne hotel room in 2023, co-judged alongside Andy on hit cooking show MasterChef Australia from 2020 up until his death

    Jock (left), who was found dead aged 46 in a Melbourne hotel room in 2023, co-judged alongside Andy on hit cooking show MasterChef Australia from 2020 up until his death

    Elsewhere in the heartbreaking interview, Andy recounted the moment he was given the news of Jock’s passing by his wife Lauren Zonfrillo.

    The chef admitted that the grief of losing his close friend hit him ‘straight away’, a feeling that made him instantly ill.

    ‘As soon as I got off the phone, I ran straight to the bathroom and I vomited everywhere,’ he said.

    Andy also shared how he still grieves his friend daily.  

    ‘I always think of him. And I miss him, I miss him so much. It’s crazy that that never goes’ he said. 

    ‘That being reminded of him wherever I go and no matter what I do, it is still as strong as the day that he passed two years ago.’

    Andy’s raw on-screen moment comes after he shared a heartfelt tribute to his late co-star on the second anniversary of his death.

    Last week, the celebrity chef shared a throwback photo to social media of them together and captioned it with some bittersweet words.

    ‘Two years since we lost the great man, Jock Zonfrillo. I miss him more than ever,’ Andy wrote.

    In a sit-down interview with Seven's Spotlight, Andy, 37, got candid about the last time he saw his friend, revealing he met Jock for lunch the day before his body was discovered

    In a sit-down interview with Seven’s Spotlight, Andy, 37, got candid about the last time he saw his friend, revealing he met Jock for lunch the day before his body was discovered

    Last week, the celebrity chef shared a throwback photo to social media of them together and captioned it with some bittersweet words

    Last week, the celebrity chef shared a throwback photo to social media of them together and captioned it with some bittersweet words

    The precious picture captured the pair beaming together as they proudly held up string sausages to the camera.

    Many of Andy’s celebrity friends took to the comment section to share their support.

    Jock’s widow Lauren posted a love heart emoji, as did celebrity chef Darren Robertson.  

    Andy previously revealed the death of his close friend and co-star was the ‘hardest time’ of his life.

    Last year, he opened up about losing Jock and told how it was ‘really difficult’ grieving in the public eye.

    The TV personality candidly revealed it was the first time he had dealt with such a personal tragedy.

    ‘It was the hardest time of my life, I had never had tragedy like that hit me so close, it was very uncharted waters and multiply that by it being in the public eye; it was really difficult,’ he told the Herald Sun.

    Andy detailed his heavy emotional toll and told how he spent a ‘full day crying’ after travelling to Sicily to mark Jock’s birthday.

    ‘I spent a full day just crying, in a couple of hour increments, just having a good old cry, then I would be quiet… then I would go again,’ he shared.

    Jock was found dead at the Zagame’s House hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne’s CBD, at around 2am on May 1, 2023.

    At the time, his wife Lauren was in Italy with their two children and had phoned Victoria Police to request a welfare check because he stopped answering her calls.

    Jock’s death came just one day before the 2023 season of MasterChef was due to premiere, and it was delayed in arriving on air for a week ‘out of respect’.

  • Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren reveals whether she is still single – as she shares her MasterChef star husband’s shock advice on moving on

    Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren reveals whether she is still single – as she shares her MasterChef star husband’s shock advice on moving on

    Lauren Zonfrillo has revealed that her late MasterChef Australia star husband Jock would not have wanted her to move on and find a new partner. 

    The grieving widow told 7NEWS Spotlight’s Liz Hayes on Sunday that Jock Zonfrillo, who died in 2023, would have advised her to stay single. 

    ‘Jock is not the person who would want to say to me, on his death bed, “I just want you to be happy. I want you to be happy”‘ the 44-year-old revealed. 

    ‘Jock would never say that. So I laugh at the thought, because he would say, “I want you to be alone and a spinster and mine for the rest of your life.”

    ‘No one else. So I laugh at the thought of that now’. 

    Lauren said that she hopes to find love again one day, but for now, she can’t imagine doing so. 

    Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren reveals whether she is still single – as she shares her MasterChef star husband’s shock advice on moving on

    Lauren Zonfrillo has revealed that her late MasterChef Australia star husband Jock would not have wanted her to move on and find a new partner. Both pictured 

    ‘I can’t. I still think I am married Jock. I think I’ve got to accept that he’s not coming home, to actually accept that I don’t have a husband anymore’ she said. 

    ‘I do want a big life, and I still believe I can. I think part of that is love. That has been a really wonderful part of my life the past ten years. 

    ‘It’s likely. I hope so. But I can’t imagine it.’

    Jock was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room about 2am on May 1, 2023 after police were called to conduct a welfare check on the 46-year-old.

    When asked to disclose Jock’s cause of death, which has never been revealed, Lauren remained protective of her husband.       

    ‘A lot of people want to know the answer to that, I’m really aware of that. I’ve had a lot of experiences with people coming up to me, all strangers, and asking how Jock died, and it’s very unsettling’ she said.

    ‘Jock was very open in what he was willing to talk about. And I now don’t want to make those decisions, because I don’t know what he does and doesn’t want to talk about.’

    Lauren said she ‘has an answer’ to what killed her husband, but ‘it doesn’t make a difference’ to her grieving process. 

    The grieving widow told 7NEWS Spotlight's Liz Hayes on Sunday that Jock Zonfrillo, who died in 2023, would have advised her to stay single

    The grieving widow told 7NEWS Spotlight’s Liz Hayes on Sunday that Jock Zonfrillo, who died in 2023, would have advised her to stay single

    'Jock is not the person who would want to say to me, on his death bed, "I just want you to be happy"' the 44-year-old revealed

    ‘Jock is not the person who would want to say to me, on his death bed, “I just want you to be happy”‘ the 44-year-old revealed

    There was widespread speculation about the cause of Zonfrillo’s sudden death due to his well-publicised history of drug abuse and mental health struggles.

    He left behind Lauren and their two young children, five-year-old Alfie and three-year-old Isla, as well as daughters Ava and Sofia from previous marriages.

    At the time of Zonfrillo’s death, Lauren had been in Italy and reportedly became concerned when her husband failed to keep to their usual daily schedule of telephone calls.

    A senior Victoria Police source told Daily Mail Australia that officers who attended Zagame’s House in Carlton found Zonfrillo dead in his bed and saw no obvious signs of anything suspicious or unusual.

    There was no drug paraphernalia located, no one else in his room and police at the scene formed the initial view Zonfrillo had died of natural causes.

    Lauren has never publicly discussed Zonfrillo’s cause of death and a spokeswoman for Victoria’s Coroners Court told Daily Mail Australia in February that the August 2024 findings of an investigation would not be published.

    It is unclear if Lauren will reveal what she knows of what happened the night her husband died in her upcoming book Till Death Do Us Part, an extract of which appears in the current edition of The Australian Women’s Weekly.

    Before his death, Zonfrillo had been preparing for the launch of MasterChef’s 15th season, which was set to premiere the night his body was found.

    'Jock would never say that. So I laugh at the thought, because he would say, "I want you to be alone and a spinster and mine for the rest of your life"' she said

    ‘Jock would never say that. So I laugh at the thought, because he would say, “I want you to be alone and a spinster and mine for the rest of your life”‘ she said 

    He was also in the early stages of planning a new restaurant and had started working on a cookbook prior to his death.

    Zonfrillo and his wife had put their four-bedroom Carlton terrace up for rent ahead of a potential permanent move to Italy, where his father was born.

    Daily Mail Australia previously revealed Zonfrillo had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in mid 2021, after recovering from an earlier bout with the disease.

    It is not suggested the cancer killed Zonfrillo, only that he had told friends its return was detected after a routine colonoscopy.

    A source said Zonfrillo kept his health problems from most friends and colleagues, receiving treatment including chemotherapy when MasterChef was not filming.

    A fortnight after Zonfrillo’s death his wife led about 200 mourners who gathered for a funeral at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium at North Ryde on May 13.

    Among those who attended the service were celebrity chefs George Calombaris, Matt Moran, Colin Fassnidge, Manu Feildel and Shannon Bennett as well as Zonfrillo’s co-stars Allen and Melissa Leong.

    Lauren was among the pallbearers and delivered a eulogy before Zonfrillo’s friend and fellow Scotsman, Jimmy Barnes, sang Amazing Grace with his daughter Mahalia.

    Jock left behind Lauren and their two young children, five-year-old Alfie and three-year-old Isla (both pictured), as well as daughters Ava and Sofia from previous marriages

    Jock left behind Lauren and their two young children, five-year-old Alfie and three-year-old Isla (both pictured), as well as daughters Ava and Sofia from previous marriages

    Zonfrillo wrote in his 2021 memoir Last Shot about battling a heroin addiction from his teenage years working as a chef in Glasgow.

    After moving to north-west England he sold cocaine and other drugs to supplement his wages, was eventually sacked and at 17 made his way to London.

    Zonfrillo wrote that he turned up at Marco Pierre White’s renowned restaurant at the Hyde Park Hotel in 1994 and the famed chef became a mentor who would shape his life.

    He moved to Australia aged 20 in 1996 and got a job at Forty One restaurant in Sydney where he was using cocaine, pills, LSD and cannabis.

    According to his book, Zonfrillo kept a raging heroin habit hidden from everyone before going back to the UK in 1997 when his visa ran out.

    He wrote of taking his last hit of heroin in the toilets at Heathrow airport before returning to Australia in early 2000.

    Zonfrillo opened his own restaurants, Orana and Bistro Blackwood, in Adelaide in 2013. He added a third, Nonna Mallozzi, in 2018.

    The latter lasted six months, Bistro Blackwood closed in late 2019 and Orana in March 2020.

    Zonfrillo joined the MasterChef Australia judging panel in 2020 with food critic Leong and restaurateur Allen after original judges Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston left.

    Till Death Do Us Part, published by Penguin Books Australia, will be released on May 6.

  • Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren shares harrowing details on seeing the lifeless body of her MasterChef star husband as she’s quizzed on his cause of death

    Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren shares harrowing details on seeing the lifeless body of her MasterChef star husband as she’s quizzed on his cause of death

    Lauren Zonfrillo has shared the harrowing final moments she spent with her MasterChef Australia star husband Jock as she said goodbye to his lifeless body. 

    Jock Zonfrillo was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room about 2am on May 1, 2023 after police were called to conduct a welfare check on the 46-year-old.

    His grieving widow raced home to Australia from Italy with the couple’s two young children, where she was faced with seeing his body in a Melbourne morgue.  

    Lauren told Seven Spotlight’s Liz Hayes on Sunday that she was full of fear – but needed to see her husband, and speak to him.

    ‘I was scared of it, but it was just what I needed. It was just a very strange feeling’ she said while tears rolled down her face. 

    ‘Jock was in his pyjamas. I could smell his aftershave. I could smell his hair product. It was just like Jock was sleeping. 

    Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren shares harrowing details on seeing the lifeless body of her MasterChef star husband as she’s quizzed on his cause of death

    Lauren Zonfrillo has shared the harrowing final moments she spent with her MasterChef Australia star husband Jock as she said goodbye to his lifeless body. Both pictured 

    ‘I went up to him, and I wanted to touch him but I was quite scared. And so I started with his hair, and then I could touch his face, then I was kind of, was okay with it. But it was really my time to say goodbye to Jock’ she continued. 

    ‘He was still there. I really felt he was there. I told him that it will be okay, that I’ve got this. That I will make sure the kids live big lives. And that, no matter what, we would be a family.’

    Lauren said that she begged her husband to tell her what happened to him, and wished that he would reply.  

    ‘I asked him what the f**k happened, and I just wanted the words from him. He just looked completely normal to me. 

    ‘I could not undo what was in front of me. Like, I am broken now. That’s it. There’s no fixing me. This is the person I love that much, who cannot be there.’

    When asked to disclose Jock’s cause of death, which has never been revealed, Lauren remained protective of her husband.       

    ‘A lot of people want to know the answer to that, I’m really aware of that. I’ve had a lot of experiences with people coming up to me, all strangers, and asking how Jock died, and it’s very unsettling’ she said.

    ‘Jock was very open in what he was willing to talk about. And I now don’t want to make those decisions, because I don’t know what he does and doesn’t want to talk about.’

    Lauren told Seven Spotlight's Liz Hayes (right) on Sunday that she was full of fear - but needed to see her husband, and speak to him

    Lauren told Seven Spotlight’s Liz Hayes (right) on Sunday that she was full of fear – but needed to see her husband, and speak to him

    'Jock was in his pyjamas. I could smell his aftershave. It was just like Jock was sleeping' she said while tears rolled down her face

    ‘Jock was in his pyjamas. I could smell his aftershave. It was just like Jock was sleeping’ she said while tears rolled down her face

    Lauren said she ‘has an answer’ to what killed her husband, but ‘it doesn’t make a difference’ to her grieving process. 

    There was widespread speculation about the cause of Zonfrillo’s sudden death due to his well-publicised history of drug abuse and mental health struggles.

    He left behind Lauren and their two young children, five-year-old Alfie and three-year-old Isla, as well as daughters Ava and Sofia from previous marriages.

    At the time of Zonfrillo’s death, Lauren had been in Italy and reportedly became concerned when her husband failed to keep to their usual daily schedule of telephone calls.

    A senior Victoria Police source told Daily Mail Australia that officers who attended Zagame’s House in Carlton found Zonfrillo dead in his bed and saw no obvious signs of anything suspicious or unusual.

    There was no drug paraphernalia located, no one else in his room and police at the scene formed the initial view Zonfrillo had died of natural causes.

    Lauren has never publicly discussed Zonfrillo’s cause of death and a spokeswoman for Victoria’s Coroners Court told Daily Mail Australia in February that the August 2024 findings of an investigation would not be published.

    It is unclear if Lauren will reveal what she knows of what happened the night her husband died in her upcoming book Till Death Do Us Part, an extract of which appears in the current edition of The Australian Women’s Weekly.

    'I went up to him, and I wanted to touch him but I was quite scared. And so I started with his hair, and then I could touch his face, then I was kind of, was okay with it. But it was really my time to say goodbye to Jock' she continued

    ‘I went up to him, and I wanted to touch him but I was quite scared. And so I started with his hair, and then I could touch his face, then I was kind of, was okay with it. But it was really my time to say goodbye to Jock’ she continued

    In that extract, Lauren describes how she coped with her first birthday after Zonfrillo’s loss.

    ‘I started crying the night before and continued for hours in bed, so I took a sleeping tablet, and then when I woke up the next morning, the tears instantly started again,’ she writes. 

    ‘The kids came into my room in the morning, and without even saying anything, Alfie went downstairs to the freezer, got me two icepacks, came back upstairs and told me to put them on my head.

    ‘I said it was my birthday, and the response I got was to be asked when they would be able to eat some of my cake.’

    Alfie and Isla then went downstairs and made themselves breakfast.

    ‘I felt like they didn’t care it was my birthday, and that made the crying even more uncontrollable,’ she writes. ‘Then I acknowledged they didn’t understand the importance of the day to me, and I was expecting a three-year-old and a six-year-old to be Jock.’

    As Lauren’s family and friends called and texted with birthday messages she turned off her phone ‘so I could cry and feel sorry for myself interrupted’.

    ‘I was now maybe an hour and a half away from needing to leave for my birthday lunch with friends, so I climbed out of bed, took a couple of beta-blockers and some CBD oil, had a shower and got in an Uber,’ she writes.

    Jock left behind Lauren and their two young children, five-year-old Alfie and three-year-old Isla (both pictured), as well as daughters Ava and Sofia from previous marriages

    Jock left behind Lauren and their two young children, five-year-old Alfie and three-year-old Isla (both pictured), as well as daughters Ava and Sofia from previous marriages

    Lauren burst into tears when she met friends including her late husband’s fellow MasterChef judge Andy Allen and his wife Alex for lunch.

    CBD (cannabidiol) oil is a prescription medication made from the hemp plant and used to treat epilepsy. It is taken by some users to relieve anxiety and pain.

    Beta-blockers are used to lower blood pressure and heart rate but can also ease anxiety.

    Lauren had assumed the first year after Zonfrillo’s death would be the hardest, particularly because of all the ‘firsts’ she and the family would experience without him, but that was not the case. 

    ‘That may be true for the first Christmas or Mother’s Day, but they actually come in waves each year, and some are freak waves I didn’t see coming,’ she writes. 

    Lauren also describes how she handles raising two young children as a single parent.

    ‘An agreement I made with myself early on was that good enough was good enough,’ she writes. 

    Some of those moments included ordering a cake from Uber Eats for her son’s birthday, an occasion which was previously catered for by her husband. 

    Lauren said she 'has an answer' to what killed her husband, but 'it doesn't make a difference' to her grieving process

    Lauren said she ‘has an answer’ to what killed her husband, but ‘it doesn’t make a difference’ to her grieving process

    The marketing and communications agency founder, who appears as a panellist on the ABC’s Gruen program, also could not work out how to turn on the Christmas tree lights.

    ‘I just keep telling myself that I am doing the best I can in this moment in time,’ she writes. 

    ‘As I move further away from the immediate trauma of losing Jock, the importance of numbers is receding as I shift from basic survival and getting through one day at a time to freedom and release from guilt.

    Before his death, Zonfrillo had been preparing for the launch of MasterChef’s 15th season, which was set to premiere the night his body was found.

    He was also in the early stages of planning a new restaurant and had started working on a cookbook prior to his death.

    Zonfrillo and his wife had put their four-bedroom Carlton terrace up for rent ahead of a potential permanent move to Italy, where his father was born.

    Daily Mail Australia previously revealed Zonfrillo had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in mid 2021, after recovering from an earlier bout with the disease.

    It is not suggested the cancer killed Zonfrillo, only that he had told friends its return was detected after a routine colonoscopy.

    Lauren has never publicly discussed Zonfrillo's cause of death and a spokeswoman for Victoria's Coroners Court told Daily Mail Australia in February that the August 2024 findings of an investigation would not be published

    Lauren has never publicly discussed Zonfrillo’s cause of death and a spokeswoman for Victoria’s Coroners Court told Daily Mail Australia in February that the August 2024 findings of an investigation would not be published

    A source said Zonfrillo kept his health problems from most friends and colleagues, receiving treatment including chemotherapy when MasterChef was not filming.

    A fortnight after Zonfrillo’s death his wife led about 200 mourners who gathered for a funeral at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium at North Ryde on May 13.

    Among those who attended the service were celebrity chefs George Calombaris, Matt Moran, Colin Fassnidge, Manu Feildel and Shannon Bennett as well as Zonfrillo’s co-stars Allen and Melissa Leong.

    Lauren was among the pallbearers and delivered a eulogy before Zonfrillo’s friend and fellow Scotsman, Jimmy Barnes, sang Amazing Grace with his daughter Mahalia.

    Zonfrillo wrote in his 2021 memoir Last Shot about battling a heroin addiction from his teenage years working as a chef in Glasgow.

    After moving to north-west England he sold cocaine and other drugs to supplement his wages, was eventually sacked and at 17 made his way to London.

    Zonfrillo wrote that he turned up at Marco Pierre White’s renowned restaurant at the Hyde Park Hotel in 1994 and the famed chef became a mentor who would shape his life.

    He moved to Australia aged 20 in 1996 and got a job at Forty One restaurant in Sydney where he was using cocaine, pills, LSD and cannabis.

    Zonfrillo joined the MasterChef Australia judging panel in 2020 with food critic Leong and restaurateur Allen after original judges Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston left

    Zonfrillo joined the MasterChef Australia judging panel in 2020 with food critic Leong and restaurateur Allen after original judges Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston left

    According to his book, Zonfrillo kept a raging heroin habit hidden from everyone before going back to the UK in 1997 when his visa ran out.

    He wrote of taking his last hit of heroin in the toilets at Heathrow airport before returning to Australia in early 2000.

    Zonfrillo opened his own restaurants, Orana and Bistro Blackwood, in Adelaide in 2013. He added a third, Nonna Mallozzi, in 2018.

    The latter lasted six months, Bistro Blackwood closed in late 2019 and Orana in March 2020.

    Zonfrillo joined the MasterChef Australia judging panel in 2020 with food critic Leong and restaurateur Allen after original judges Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston left.

    Till Death Do Us Part, published by Penguin Books Australia, will be released on May 6.

  • MasterChef star Andy Allen pays heartfelt tribute to Jock Zonfrillo on the second anniversary of his death: ‘I miss him more than ever’

    MasterChef star Andy Allen pays heartfelt tribute to Jock Zonfrillo on the second anniversary of his death: ‘I miss him more than ever’

    MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen has shared a heartfelt tribute to his late co-star Jock Zonfrillo, on the second anniversary of his death.

    The celebrity chef, 37, who co-hosted the popular Channel Ten cooking competition alongside Jock from 2020 – 2023, shared a throwback photo to social media of them together and captioned it with some bittersweet words.

    ‘Two years since we lost the great man, Jock Zonfrillo. I miss him more than ever,’ Andy wrote.

    The precious picture captured the pair beaming together as they proudly held up string sausages to the camera. 

    Many of Andy’s celebrity friends took to the comment section to share their support.

    Jock’s widow Lauren posted a love heart emoji, as did celebrity chef Darren Robertson.

    MasterChef star Andy Allen pays heartfelt tribute to Jock Zonfrillo on the second anniversary of his death: ‘I miss him more than ever’

    MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen has shared a heartfelt tribute to his late co-star Jock Zonfrillo, on the second anniversary of his death. Both pictured 

    Beloved celebrity chef Jock was tragically found dead in a hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne’s CBD, on April 30, 2023 – which was also Andy’s 35th birthday.

    Andy previously revealed the death of his close friend and co-star was the ‘hardest time’ of his life.

    Last year, he opened up about losing Jock and told how it was ‘really difficult’ grieving in the public eye.

    The TV personality candidly revealed it was the first time he had dealt with such a personal tragedy. 

    ‘It was the hardest time of my life, I had never had tragedy like that hit me so close, it was very uncharted waters and multiply that by it being in the public eye; it was really difficult,’ he told the Herald Sun.

    Andy said he didn’t give himself a chance to grieve because he wanted to be there for Jock’s family – his wife Lauren and their kids Alfie, eight, and Isla, four, as well as his adult daughters Ava and Sophia from past relationships.

    He detailed his heavy emotional toll and told how he spent a ‘full day crying’ after travelling to Sicily to mark Jock’s birthday.

    ‘I spent a full day just crying, in a couple of hour increments, just having a good old cry, then I would be quiet… then I would go again,’ he shared.

    The celebrity chef, 37, who co-hosted the popular Channel Ten cooking competition alongside Jock from 2020 - 2023, shared a throwback photo to social media of them together and captioned it with some sad words

    The celebrity chef, 37, who co-hosted the popular Channel Ten cooking competition alongside Jock from 2020 – 2023, shared a throwback photo to social media of them together and captioned it with some sad words 

    Beloved celebrity chef Jock was tragically found dead in a hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne's CBD, on April 30, 2023

    Beloved celebrity chef Jock was tragically found dead in a hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne’s CBD, on April 30, 2023 

    Andy said his grief only really hit him twice while shooting the latest series of MasterChef, which was also his first without his close friend Jock. 

    Andy previously admitted he almost didn’t appear on the 2024 season of the cooking contest, but is ‘so glad’ he decided to push through the grief.

    ‘It was tough. I didn’t know if I was going to do it. I’m so glad that I did, but it was hard,’ he told The Project.

    Jock was found dead at the Zagame’s House hotel in Carlton, near Melbourne’s CBD, at around 2am on April 30, 2023. 

    Network 10 dedicated the fifteenth season to Jock and his family as they aired his scenes posthumously, acknowledging his ‘sudden and tragic passing’.

    At the time, his wife Lauren was in Italy with their two children and had phoned Victoria Police to request a welfare check because he stopped answering her calls.

    Jock’s death came just one day before the 2023 season of MasterChef was due to premiere, and it was delayed in arriving on air for a week ‘out of respect’.

  • MasterChef Australia star makes shock admission ahead of 2025 premiere

    MasterChef Australia star makes shock admission ahead of 2025 premiere

    Andre Ursini has made a shocking admission ahead of his long-awaited return to MasterChef Australia after making his TV debut on the show 16 years ago.

    The celebrity cook, 44, shot to fame on the Channel Ten series in 2009 and went on to become an award-winning foodie—but now the hospitality businessman has revealed he may be ‘a bit rusty’ for his return to television.

    He revealed on Sunday that since his rise to fame, Andre has barely stepped foot in a kitchen and often ‘delegates’ as he manages his successful restaurants, reported The Sunday Mail. 

    ‘I haven’t cooked in a long time,’ Andre said.

    ‘As I developed these businesses, it took me away from the kitchen. I delegate a lot, it’s been less hands-on. It’s more about managing people and numbers.

    ‘Now I just want to concentrate on cooking again and have some fun—that’s my main agenda.’

    MasterChef Australia star makes shock admission ahead of 2025 premiere

    Andre Ursini has made a shocking admission ahead of his long-awaited return to MasterChef Australia after making his TV debut on the show 16 years ago

    Andre is set to return to the kitchen in the upcoming season of MasterChef Australia: Back to Win. 

    The chef and restaurateur posted the news on his Instagram, along with a trailer for the upcoming season of the cooking competition.

    The preview features the dramatic moment he was booted off the show in season one.

    ‘I got eliminated on a Sri Lankan curry taste test,’ the Adelaide food guru said in the voice over.

    Also included is new footage of a now bearded Andre working on a recipe.

    ‘I haven’t been in the MasterChef kitchen for about 16 years… bloody long time,’ he continued.

    ‘I’m back, time to start cooking again.’

    He also teased his hopes for the new season.

    The celebrity cook shot to fame on the Channel Ten series in 2009 and went on to become an award-winning foodie¿but now the hospitality businessman has revealed he may be 'a bit rusty' for his return to television

    The celebrity cook shot to fame on the Channel Ten series in 2009 and went on to become an award-winning foodie—but now the hospitality businessman has revealed he may be ‘a bit rusty’ for his return to television

    ‘I’ve ticked all my food creative goals, my work goals, my life goals,’ he said.

    ‘But I’ve never held that [MasterChef] trophy.’

    The former reality star has opened several notable eateries in South Australia, including the award-winning Andre’s Cucina & Polenta Bar in Adelaide, ORSO, Villetta Porcini, Lost Phoenix Farm and Willmott’s Gastronomia.

    Meanwhile, speculation is mounting that former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong could be returning to the show.

    According to a well-placed source, Melissa, 43, is putting wheels in motion to return to the cooking competition show, but only if another judge isn’t there.

    ‘Melissa told Ten that she’ll go back to MasterChef Australia when Andy Allen goes,’ a TV insider told Daily Mail Australia.

    ‘I think the idea of returning to what the show once was for her seems a bit daunting and the only way Melissa would ever return is if the whole format was revamped.’

    Melissa left MasterChef Australia last year under a cloud of suspicion about an alleged feud with her former co-host Allen.

    He revealed on Sunday that since his rise to fame, Andre has barely stepped for in a kitchen and often 'delegates' as he manages his successful restaurants, reported The Sunday Mail

    He revealed on Sunday that since his rise to fame, Andre has barely stepped for in a kitchen and often ‘delegates’ as he manages his successful restaurants, reported The Sunday Mail 

    Following revelations of backstage tensions between Melissa and crew members employed by Ten’s production partner Endemol Shine in 2022, came news she was no longer in the MasterChef Australia line-up.

    Melissa shocked fans when she shared news of her departure to Instagram one day before the network’s 2024 Upfronts.

    ‘The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I’m so glad to do that on my terms, today,’ she penned last October.

    Meanwhile, affable Andy, 36, returned to the show in 2024 alongside three new judges.

    Media darling Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Melbourne food critic Sofia Levin have all joined.

    Melissa’s departure came after claims she had been axed following a string of publicised off-camera dramas.

    She infamously had a blow up with the program’s hair and make-up team along with a substitute freelance hairstylist in 2022.

  • MasterChef Australia star Mandy Hall reveals shock health scare that left her hospitalised

    MasterChef Australia star Mandy Hall reveals shock health scare that left her hospitalised

    MasterChef Australia star Mandy Hall has opened up about a recent health scare  that left her hospitalised.

    The reality TV veteran, who appeared as a contestant on the show in 2019, recently shared a photo to social media of her lying in a hospital bed and captioned it with some alarming words.

    ‘For the last few months, I’ve been dealing with some health stuff. Annoying, occasionally a bit scary. Every time I did cardio, it felt like a clamp was tightening around my chest. Spoiler, it did not get better,’ Mandy began.

    ‘By Good Friday, things escalated. I was struggling at the gym, struggling more at home. My trainer told me to stop and get checked out. I attempted to wait until after the long weekend (solid 0/10 plan).’

    The mother-of-one added the condition got worse and she was forced to go to the hospital for treatment.

    ‘Three days ago I ended up in emergency. Then early this morning, they popped a balloon stent into my heart to deal with a blockage that had been sitting there like an uninvited guest at the world’s worst dinner party,’ she said.

    MasterChef Australia star Mandy Hall reveals shock health scare that left her hospitalised

    MasterChef Australia star Mandy Hall has opened up about a recent health scare she experienced that left her hospitalised. The reality TV veteran recently shared a photo to social media of her lying in a hospital bed and captioned it with some alarming words

    Mandy assured fans she was fine and warned them not to ignore problems with their body. 

    ‘I’m genuinely and seriously fine, and I’ll be back at it by Monday. But here’s the thing: listen to your body. That weird tightness, that discomfort you’re brushing off? It’s not always nothing,’ she wrote.

    ‘Take care of you. Don’t be a hero. Go to the doctor.’

    Many of Mandy’s celebrity friends took to the comment section to offer words of support.

    ‘Get well soon,’ wrote fellow MasterChef veteran Kishwar Chowdhury and TV presenter Rebecca Morse chipped in: ‘You poor love! Rest up.’

    Mandy was a contestant on season 11 of MasterChef Australia in 2019.

    The upcoming season of the long-running program sees 24 past contestants come back to win the MasterChef trophy and $250,000 in prize money.

    Among the cast are MasterChef fan favourites, including season one’s Andre Ursini, Sarah Todd from season 14 and Tim Bone from season 11.

    The mother-of-one added the condition got worse and she was forced to go to the hospital for treatment

    The mother-of-one added the condition got worse and she was forced to go to the hospital for treatment

    And already fans of the cooking competition have emerged with a theory about who will be crowned the winner.

    Viewers have gone online to speculate that the producers have spoiled the show after dropping a promo poster showing just six of the 24 contestants who will battle it out in the kitchen.

    The featured contestants are lined up in the image and appear in various sizes, including Laura Sharrad who starred in seasons 6 and 12.

    Also appearing in the promo are season 16’s Savindri Perera and Darrsh Clarke as well as Tim Bone from season 11.

    There’s also Declan Cleary from season 15, while the image of fan favourite Steph De Sousa from season 11 looms largest in the poster.

    Many fans felt Laura Sharrad was a shoe-in based on her appearance on the poster.

    A fan Reddit started the discussion by asking, ‘Do you think the winner is pictured?’

    ‘Considering that Laura is the only pictured contestant from before season 11, do you think she wins, or do you think that the winner is not pictured?’

  • MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen finally addresses bizarre fan rumour: ‘I start crying’

    MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen finally addresses bizarre fan rumour: ‘I start crying’

    Foodie Andy Allen has finally addressed a bizarre rumour that has dogged his time as a cast member MasterChef Australia.

    The 36-year-old who has been a judge on the cooking competition since 2020 has been known to pull a face after tasty a spicy dish.

    And fans have drawn the conclusion that the former contestant is not a ‘friend’ of chilli. 

    ‘I’m going to put this to bed once and for all,’ Andy told Pedestrian TV as he addressed the ‘spice’ rumour.

    He explained, ‘I love spice, but I show my emotions.

    ‘When I have chilli, I start crying, there might be a little bit of sweat. I really do enjoy spice, it just hits me!’

    MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen finally addresses bizarre fan rumour: ‘I start crying’

    Foodie Andy Allen (pictured) has finally addressed a rumour that has dogged his time as a cast member MasterChef Australia. The 36-year-old who has been a judge on the cooking competition since 2020 has been known to pull a face after tasty a spicy dish on the show 

    ‘Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you can’t handle spice’. I can handle spice, but I just show it,’ he continues. 

    ‘I’m not that tough guy who just stands there, and you just see beads of sweat rolling down his face. I let everyone know that it’s hot!’

    Andy will be returning to the MasterChef kitchen on Monday alongside Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli. 

    This season sees 24 past contestants come back to win the MasterChef trophy and $250,000 in prize money.

    Among the cast are MasterChef fan favourites, including season one’s Andre Ursini, Sarah Todd from season 14 and Tim Bone from season 11.

    And already fans of the cooking competition have emerged with a theory about who will be crowned the winner.

    Viewers have gone online to speculate that the producers have spoiled the show after dropping a promo poster showing just six of the 24 contestants who will battle it out in the kitchen.

    The featured contestants are lined up in the image and appear in various sizes, including Laura Sharrad who starred in seasons 6 and 12.

    Also appearing in the promo are season 16’s Savindri Perera and Darrsh Clarke as well as Tim Bone from season 11.

    'I'm going to put this to bed once and for all,' Andy told Pedestrian TV as he addressed the 'spice' rumour. He explained, 'I love spice, but I show my emotions'

    ‘I’m going to put this to bed once and for all,’ Andy told Pedestrian TV as he addressed the ‘spice’ rumour. He explained, ‘I love spice, but I show my emotions’ 

    MasterChef Australia premieres on Channel 10 on Monday April 28

    MasterChef Australia premieres on Channel 10 on Monday April 28

    There’s also Declan Cleary from season 15, while the image of fan favourite Steph De Sousa from season 11 looms largest in the poster.

    Many fans felt Laura Sharrad was a shoe-in based on her appearance on the poster.

    A fan Reddit started the discussion by asking, ‘Do you think the winner is pictured?’

    ‘Considering that Laura is the only pictured contestant from before season 11, do you think she wins, or do you think that the winner is not pictured?’

    ‘I do think majority of them probably went far or did pretty well, while maybe at least one maybe goes out relatively early?’ said one fan.

    Observed another: ‘It’s interesting that those are the ones chosen for it. I do think just based on the trailers, it seems like Laura and Darrsh are the main characters so far.’

    ‘The only one out of these that could realistically win is Laura, I think.’

    Andy AllenMasterchef Australia

  • Controversial celebrity chef set to turn up the heat on MasterChef Australia: Back To Win

    Controversial celebrity chef set to turn up the heat on MasterChef Australia: Back To Win

    Advertisement

    A controversial celebrity chef is making his long-awaited return to MasterChef Australia.

    Channel 10 announced on Tuesday that Gordon Ramsay, 58, will be appearing as a guest judge on the new season’s Back to Win competition which is set to premiere on April 28.

    The notoriously hot-tempered Ramsay will be joined in the kitchen by regular judges Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

    Ramsay last appeared on the hit cooking competition in 2018.

    This season sees 24 past contestants come back to win the MasterChef trophy and $250,000 in prize money.

    Among the cast are MasterChef fan favourites, including season one’s Andre Ursini, Sarah Todd from 2022’s season 14 and Tim Bone from season 11.

    Controversial celebrity chef set to turn up the heat on MasterChef Australia: Back To Win

    Controversial celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is making his long awaited return to MasterChef Australia. Pictured: Gordon Ramsay in a scene from his show Kitchen Nightmares

    The 58-year-old food guru with be appearing as a guest judge on the new season's Back to Win competition which drops April 28. He last appeard on the hit cooking competition in 2018. (Gordon Ramsay is pictured with Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Jock Zonfrillo)

    The 58-year-old food guru with be appearing as a guest judge on the new season’s Back to Win competition which drops April 28. He last appeard on the hit cooking competition in 2018. (Gordon Ramsay is pictured with Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Jock Zonfrillo)

    Also among the contestants is season 6 runner-up Laura Sharrad.

    Andre Ursini, who made his TV debut in 2009 as a contestant on MasterChef Australia, recently announced his return to the show.

    The 44-year-old chef and restaurateur posted the news on his Instagram, along with a fresh trailer for the Back To Win season.

    The preview features the dramatic moment he was booted off the show in season one.

    ‘I got eliminated on a Sri Lankan curry taste test,’ the Adelaide-based chef says in the voice over.

    Also included is new footage of a now bearded Andre working on a recipe.

    ‘I haven’t been in the MasterChef kitchen for about 16 years…bloody long time,’ he continues.

    ‘I’m back, time to start cooking again.’

    This year sees 24 past contestants come back to try out for the MasterChef trophy and $250,000 in prize money including season 1's Andre Ursini (pictured)

    This year sees 24 past contestants come back to try out for the MasterChef trophy and $250,000 in prize money including season 1’s Andre Ursini (pictured)

    He also teased his hopes for the new season.

    ‘I’ve ticked all my food creative goals, my work goals, my life goals,’ he said.

    ‘But I’ve never held that [MasterChef] trophy.’

    The former reality star has opened several notable eateries in South Australia, including the award-winning Andre’s Cucina & Polenta Bar in Adelaide, ORSO, Villetta Porcini, Lost Phoenix Farm and Willmott’s Gastronomia.

    It comes after Ramsay opened four new establishments in his home base of London in February.

    The TV chef expanded his culinary empire in the form of the 120-seat Lucky Cat on level 60 at 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest building in the City of London.

    Additionally, he has also launched Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, the Gordon Ramsay Academy, and Lucky Cat Bar in the building.

  • George Calombaris delivers hilarious response to food critic who ripped his new restaurant to shreds in a scathing review… claiming there were ‘dead flies floating in the soy sauce’

    George Calombaris delivers hilarious response to food critic who ripped his new restaurant to shreds in a scathing review… claiming there were ‘dead flies floating in the soy sauce’

    George Calombaris has hit back at a Sydney-based food critic who ripped his latest restaurant project Double Happy Chinese to shreds in a scathing review.

    Sydney Morning Herald food writer Callan Boys had nothing nice to say about George’s new eatery, which opened its doors in February, and even claimed he saw ‘dead flies floating in the soy sauce’ while dining there. 

    But rather than be disheartened by the brutal review, the former MasterChef judge, 46, responded in the funniest way he knew how—by posting a tongue in cheek picture of himself as a fly.

    He took to his Instagram Stories with the photo on Thursday, which appeared to be an AI generated image of the celebrity chef as a fly holding a can of Mortein bug repellent. 

    ‘Got to love my besties,’ George captioned the post alongside laughing emojis, suggesting one of his friends may have created the picture to make light of the negative review about his Annandale Empire Hotel restaurant.

    On Friday, George also posted a more official response to Callan’s claims online, writing, ‘Feedback, whether positive or negative, is always valuable.

    George Calombaris delivers hilarious response to food critic who ripped his new restaurant to shreds in a scathing review… claiming there were ‘dead flies floating in the soy sauce’

    George Calombaris, 46, has hit back at a Sydney-based food critic who ripped his latest restaurant project Double Happy Chinese to shreds in a scathing review

    ‘As a team, we are committed to working closely with our managers and chefs to continue improving our food and service every single day.’

    He went on to thank his regular customers and supporters of his new project, which promises to pay tribute to the golden era of Chinese-Australian restaurants.

    ‘A huge thank you to our regulars and supporters. Your love means to world to us. We’ll keep striving to make every experience better than the last,’ George added.

    Food critic Callan had few positive things to say about Double Happy Chinese when penning his review last week. 

    ‘One night, there’s a cluster of dead flies floating in the soy sauce on our table—the kind of flies that invade my kitchen when fruit turns,’ Callan wrote.

    The wine list copped a bad rap too, with Callan pointing out a bottle of sparkling is 13 times more expensive than one you can buy at a local bottle shop.  

    ‘There’s a bottle of “Gossips” NV Cuvée on the list for $65. Charlie’s Liquor Barn in Warilla sells the same wine for $4.99,’ he wrote. 

    ‘The cocktails are fine. The roast pork belly is fine. The moist hand towelettes reek of isopropyl alcohol,’ he finished his brutal review.

    Sydney Morning Herald food writer Callan Boys had nothing nice to say about George's new eatery, which opened its doors in February, and even claimed he saw 'dead flies floating in the soy sauce' while dining there

    Sydney Morning Herald food writer Callan Boys had nothing nice to say about George’s new eatery, which opened its doors in February, and even claimed he saw ‘dead flies floating in the soy sauce’ while dining there

    Daily Mail Australia has reached out to George for further comment. 

    The controversial chef recently sung his own praises during an interview about the new venture in Good Food.  

    ‘Everyone’s been saying, “What the hell do you know about Chinese food?”‘ George said.

    ‘We’re doing proper, Aussie, old-school, Chinese food, and I know how that’s supposed to taste.’    

    George opened his new restaurant after his stint at a popular Sydney eatery ended in June last year after just five months.

    Melbourne-based George took over the reigns as creative partner at the beloved Greek restaurant Alpha in Sydney’s CBD in March 2024.

    The restaurant changed operators just a few months later when the Public Hospitality Group exited and it was taken over by Con Dedes of Dedes Waterfront Group.

    Dedes told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time George would not be continuing at Alpha after they ‘agreed mutually not to join forces’.

    But rather than be disheartened by the brutal review, the former MasterChef judge responded in the funniest way he knew how—by posting a tongue in cheek picture of himself as a fly

    But rather than be disheartened by the brutal review, the former MasterChef judge responded in the funniest way he knew how—by posting a tongue in cheek picture of himself as a fly

    He added George ‘lightened up the menu’ at Alpha and the restaurant would follow in that direction, but added the chef’s dishes would disappear from the menu in the following weeks.

    George said although Dedes is a brilliant operator, the new situation ‘just didn’t match’.

    ‘I love Sydney, and I loved my time at Alpha, but I feel like I’ve been teased. I wouldn’t say I was upset, I was saddened,’ he said.

    ‘But it did open up other opportunities. Sydney is definitely on my agenda.’

    George didn’t elaborate on the other opportunities at the time, but didn’t rule out working with another venue in the Public Hospitality Group’s portfolio.

    His departure from Alpha came after his career was disrupted by numerous personal controversies over recent years. 

    His MAdE group, which had 22 companies, collapsed in February 2020 after being ordered by the Fair Work Ombudsman to pay workers millions in unpaid penalty rates. 

     In 2019, George was ordered to repay $7.8million in unpaid wages to 515 current and former members of staff.

    George also posted a more official response to Callan's claims online, saying: 'Feedback, whether positive or negative, is always valuable'

    George also posted a more official response to Callan’s claims online, saying: ‘Feedback, whether positive or negative, is always valuable’

    He was fined $200,000 for underpaying his staff between 2011 and 2017 and lost his hospitality company Made Establishment, to liquidators.

    George was personally hit with a $200,000 penalty for the wage rorts but always insisted the underpayments were simply a mistake he blamed on inexperience.

    He said the payment error was detected after the company made a self-report, but the publicity that followed made it impossible to keep his businesses afloat.

    ‘We apologise to all our affected team members, past and present—as it is our people that make our restaurants great, and it is our priority to ensure all of our employees feel respected, rewarded and supported in their roles,’ he said in a statement.

    In 2023, George banned a patron from his restaurant after the customer left a scathing one-star review complaining about the lack of Greek staff.

    They claimed they had the ‘worst dining experience ever’ after booking six weeks in advance.

    The customer said their table waited 45 minutes for their food after the manager forgot to put their order through.

    ‘Practically none of the staff were Greek (inc the Manager who was of Indian descent) and the menu didn’t reflect what has been posted online. Calombaris—this place is a joke and you’ve certainly got a few people fooled.’

    But George hit back in a fiery Instagram post, telling the diner they were never welcome in his restaurant again.

    ‘Won’t lie. I am 99 per cent a very positive human. But this is horrible,’ George wrote.

    ‘Yes, we made a mistake with your order. We are humans. And yes, my manager is Indian. You know who you are guys. You’re not welcome ever to [the restaurant].’

  • MasterChef Australia star Khanh Ong shows off his impressive body transformation as he reveals the surprising exercise he swears by

    MasterChef Australia star Khanh Ong shows off his impressive body transformation as he reveals the surprising exercise he swears by

    Advertisement

    MasterChef Australia’s Khanh Ong has flaunted his mega makeover on the cover of Men’s Health.

    The celebrity chef, 31, sat down with the fitness publication on Tuesday to reveal the tips and tricks behind his mega transformation and the unusual exercise he swears by to keep lean. 

    When asked by the publication how he felt being the latest face—and body—to grace the magazine’s pages, he was in a state of disbelief. 

    ‘The bodies of the guys that were usually on the cover just didn’t seem attainable to me, not just because they were so huge, but because they just didn’t look like me,’ he shared.

    Khanh revealed he didn’t really care about fitness when growing up but a simple switch in attitude changed his perspective on health and wellness. 

    ‘It’s not about how much you can bench or pure size, it’s about living a balanced life,’ he said, adding fitness isn’t a look, but a feeling.

    MasterChef Australia star Khanh Ong shows off his impressive body transformation as he reveals the surprising exercise he swears by

    The celebrity chef sat down with the fitness publication on Tuesday to reveal the tips and tricks behind his mega transformation and the unusual exercise he swears by to keep lean

    MasterChef Australia’s Khanh Ong, 31, has flaunted his mega makeover on the cover of Men’s Health

    When asked by the publication how he felt being the latest face¿and body¿to grace the magazine's pages, he was in a state of disbelief

    When asked by the publication how he felt being the latest face—and body—to grace the magazine’s pages, he was in a state of disbelief

    He put his transformation down to three things: eating healthy—but flavourful—food, a hands-on trainer and, surprisingly, Pilates. 

    ‘I think ten years ago everyone thought that Pilates was for women, but that’s crazy because it can be so beneficial for everyone,’ he told Australian Men’s Health.

    The fitness foodie added the combination of both strength training and Pilates was his recipe for success, revealing Pilates strengthened his core which, in turn, meant he could lift more. 

    As for eating healthy, which is often translated in the food sphere as bland and boring, Khanh hopes to transform the narrative by posting his healthy-but delicious recipes on Instagram.

    From noodle salads to his cheats chicken rice, he creates delicious restaurant-worthy dishes based on the macros his trainer tells him to eat and his creativity as a chef. 

    This isn’t the first time Khanh has gotten candid about his appearance. 

    In May last year, the cook revealed the many cosmetic procedures he has had done on social media.

    In a candid Q&A on his Instagram Stories, the I’m A Celebrity star was asked, ‘What treatments/procedures do you get?’ as he waited in his cosmetician’s chair.

    'The bodies of the guys that were usually on the cover just didn¿t seem attainable to me, not just because they were so huge, but because they just didn¿t look like me,' he shared

    ‘The bodies of the guys that were usually on the cover just didn’t seem attainable to me, not just because they were so huge, but because they just didn’t look like me,’ he shared

    Khanh revealed he didn't really care about fitness when growing up but a simple switch in attitude changed his perspective on health and wellness

    Khanh revealed he didn’t really care about fitness when growing up but a simple switch in attitude changed his perspective on health and wellness

    'It¿s not about how much you can bench or pure size, it¿s about living a balanced life,' he said, adding fitness isn't a look, but a feeling

    ‘It’s not about how much you can bench or pure size, it’s about living a balanced life,’ he said, adding fitness isn’t a look, but a feeling

    ‘I get anti-wrinkle around the crow’s feet, under my nose and for the first time ever between my eyebrows. 

    ‘I get filler in my jaw (which I love every time I get it done),’ he wrote in the caption.

    ‘We have just started doing filler around the outside of my nose towards the bottom of my cheeks because [cosmetic nurse] Alex Pike said it was starting to deflate,’ the celebrity foodie added.

    Khanh was also asked if there was a procedure he had done that he didn’t like.

    The MasterChef Australia star said while there was nothing he hated, he did get his lips inflated once, but it proved unnecessary.

    Masterchef AustraliaInstagram

  • Dessert king Adriano Zumbo and wife Nelly announce that they’re expecting their second child

    Dessert king Adriano Zumbo and wife Nelly announce that they’re expecting their second child

    Adriano Zumbo and Nelly Riggio are expecting their second child. 

    The dessert king, 43, and his reality star wife, 34, made the announcement in an Instagram Stories post on Thursday. 

    In the image, Nelly cradled her growing bump while wearing a fitted activewear ensemble. 

    ‘Hi little gal’ she captioned the photo alongside a pink boy emoji, insinuating that her little one is a girl.  

    The couple welcomed a son together back in 2023. 

    The pair announced the joyful news on Instagram by sharing a precious black and white photo.

    Dessert king Adriano Zumbo and wife Nelly announce that they’re expecting their second child

    Adriano Zumbo and Nelly Riggio are expecting their second child. The dessert king, 43, and his reality star wife, 34, made the announcement in an Instagram Stories post. Both pictured 

    Nelly cradled her growing bump while wearing a fitted activewear ensemble. 'Hi little gal' she captioned the photo alongside a pink boy emoji, insinuating that her little one is a girl

    Nelly cradled her growing bump while wearing a fitted activewear ensemble. ‘Hi little gal’ she captioned the photo alongside a pink boy emoji, insinuating that her little one is a girl

    In the image, their bundle of joy is seen lying in his hospital crib with an identification tag wrapped around his little ankle. 

    They kept the sentiments short and sweet, adding a love heart emoji next to the adorable photo, 

    The couple did not reveal their bub’s name at the time but later indicated the boy is called Maximus Mario Zumbo, Maxy for short. 

    The couple’s glorious news was soon inundated with well-wishers from their celebrity friends.

    ‘Congratulations!’ wrote former MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong.

    ‘Whoooo!’ gushed Sydney dessert queen Katherine Sabbath.

    ‘Congratulations on your beautiful addition to your family,’ added star pastry chef Kirsten Tibballs.

    The couple announced they were expecting their first child in May that year. 

    The couple welcomed a son together back in 2023

    The couple welcomed a son together back in 2023

    They did not reveal their bub's name at the time but later indicated the boy is called Maximus Mario Zumbo, Maxy for short

    They did not reveal their bub’s name at the time but later indicated the boy is called Maximus Mario Zumbo, Maxy for short

    The pair shared the exciting news to their Instagram pages on Mother’s Day, alongside a photo of Nelly’s growing baby bump.

    ‘We are baking something very special… Most definitely our greatest creation yet. Little baby macaron due November,’ they captioned the sweet post.

    In the photo, Adriano wrapped his arms around his wife while holding a green macaron in front of her bump.

    The announcement came just one year after the pair tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

    They exchanged vows at Tiffany’s at Maleny with views of the stunning Glass House Mountains in May 2022.

    Adriano and Nelly made headlines in 2016 when they began dating shortly after they started working together. 

    The couple went public with their romance in 2017 after Nelly starred on My Kitchen Rules with then-boyfriend JP Huillet in 2016. 

    In May 2021, Nelly announced her engagement to the pastry chef, sharing the happy news to her Instagram page.

  • Fears for MasterChef Australia mega star as he reveals his very slender frame – and the shocking reason for his weight loss

    Fears for MasterChef Australia mega star as he reveals his very slender frame – and the shocking reason for his weight loss

    Fans of Reynold Poernomo have shared their fears for the MasterChef Australia star after he was seen looking very thin in his latest social media post.

    The famous foodie took to Instagram on Friday to share a post that showed him preparing a bespoke, four-course menu in Jakarta for luxury Parisian leather goods company Longchamp. 

    The video showed Reynold taking fans through the preparation of the menu’s first course – clarified tomato water with a semi-dried cherry tomato, stuffed with tomato chutney.

    However, followers seemed more concerned for the celebrity chef’s health, with many pointing out his very slender frame in the comments.

    ‘Why are you so skinny,’ one follower boldly asked, while another jumped in with: ‘How many kilos you lost?’

    A third chimed in with: ‘Reynold you have lost a lot [of] weight.’

    Fears for MasterChef Australia mega star as he reveals his very slender frame – and the shocking reason for his weight loss

    Fans of Reynold Poernomo have shared their fears for the MasterChef Australia star after he was seen looking very thin in his latest social media post, right. He is pictured on the show left

    Fans of Reynold Poernomo have shared their fears for the MasterChef Australia star after he was seen looking very thin in his latest social media post, right. He is pictured on the show left  

    The concern did not fall on deaf ears, with Reynold addressing the issue in a subsequent post on his Instagram story.

    Hours after his video post, Reynold shared a photo showing him offering a ‘thumbs up’ while addressing his apparent weight loss.

    ‘Thank you all for being concerned about my weight,’ he wrote over the image. 

    Yes, I look skinny in my latest post.’

    Reynold revealed the reason for his recent weight loss was a nasty bout of food poisoning while in Jakarta.

    ‘The day I decided to increase my intake, the first meal (steak & eggs) completely destroyed my insides with the worst food poisoning,’ Reynold admitted.

    He went on to explain that he was ‘surprised’ at his sudden illness as he had dined at a ‘nice place’ in the Indonesian capital.

    ‘So I was extremely dehydrated…nothing I consumed would stay or absorb…hence why I look so skinny,’ he said. 

    He also admitted that the weight loss was so severe that his wardrobe became to large for his shrinking frame.

    'Why are you so skinny,' one follower boldly asked, while another jumped in with: 'How many kilos you lost?'

    ‘Why are you so skinny,’ one follower boldly asked, while another jumped in with: ‘How many kilos you lost?’ 

    ‘My eyes were sunken in, clothes didn’t even fit me properly,’ he wrote.

    Rounding off he post, Reynold assured followers he was on the mend and is already back to his old self.

    ‘In the end, I had about three IV sessions in a week, jus so I can function and work.

    ‘I’m back to normal now, feeling better and stronger,’ he concluded the post, adding a smiling face emoji. 

    Reynold shot to fame as a contestant on the seventh season of MasterChef Australia, finishing fourth.

    He reprised his role on in the Channel Ten series’ 12th season in 2020, going one better with a third place berth.

    He then tried his luck a third time, in the first season of spinoff Dessert Masters Australia in 2023.

    Victory was not to be however, with Reynold named as runner up behind winner Gareth Whitton.

    The concern did not fall on deaf ears, with Reynold addressing the issue in a subsequent post on his Instagram story

    The concern did not fall on deaf ears, with Reynold addressing the issue in a subsequent post on his Instagram story 

    Reynold revealed the reason for his recent weight loss was a nasty bout of food poisoning while in Jakarta

    Reynold revealed the reason for his recent weight loss was a nasty bout of food poisoning while in Jakarta

    Following his defeat, Reynold took to Instagram to share his disappointment and said he was devastated he had never received an award for his culinary delights, or even been reviewed.  

    Alongside a gallery of photos of him hard at work in the kitchen creating a variety of delicious pastry desserts, he wrote a heartbreaking caption.

    ‘Although I may not have won, my head is still held high. My two best desserts I’ve ever done for Experiential may not have the been the best for tonight,’ he began.

    He added he was eager to one day receive an award for the delicious desserts he spends hours in the kitchen making.

    ‘It has been quite challenging to even gain the attention of the food media in Australia. Going eight years of never being reviewed or winning an award, he said.

    ‘It’s the reason why I’ve chosen to come back on and put myself out there for the world to see as well as challenge myself amongst peers.

    ‘I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity and hold great pride being a self-taught chef, so once again thank you all.’

  • MasterChef Australia star Jess Liemantara announces engagement to Nick Chen after elaborate Valentine’s Day proposal

    MasterChef Australia star Jess Liemantara announces engagement to Nick Chen after elaborate Valentine’s Day proposal

    Jess Liemantara is set to walk down the aisle.

    The MasterChef Australia star announced the good news in an Instagram post on Saturday, after becoming engaged on Valentine’s Day. 

    The 26-year-old flashed her diamond ring as she posed beside fiancé Nick Chen in a video shared to the social media platform.

    Nick, who is a home loan specialist, set up an elaborate and romantic proposal that included a path lined with candles, rose petals and framed photos of the pair. 

    It all led to a picnic set up with a bottle of champagne and a blanket, where he got down on one knee.  

    ‘I said yes!’ the pastry chef wrote in her caption alongside the moving video. 

    MasterChef Australia star Jess Liemantara announces engagement to Nick Chen after elaborate Valentine’s Day proposal

    Jess Liemantara is set to walk down the aisle. The MasterChef Australia star announced the good news in an Instagram post on Saturday, after becoming engaged on Valentine’s Day. The 26-year-old flashed her diamond ring as she posed beside fiancé Nick Chen. Both pictured

    ‘A beautiful night full of surprises, I am beyond grateful for my partner, someone I can now call my fiancé, for planning out such an incredible set up that left me in tears of joy’ she continued. 

    ‘We first met on the 15th of May 2022 at this specific park overlooking the view, spending the whole day together until the moon came up, to see how much we’ve flourished as a couple is nothing short of a blessing’ Jess went on. 

    She then thanked her friends for ‘the subtle girls night that ended up with convincing me to get my nails done’. 

    ‘But most of all thankyou Nick my best friend, soul mate and love of my life’ she concluded. 

    Jessica was a contestant on MasterChef Australia in season 10 in 2018 before returning for season 12 in 2020.

    She placed fourth in season 10, before placing 12th on on season 12.

    The chef was just 19 when she first appeared on MasterChef and was the youngest contestant on season 10. 

    At the time, she revealed the show took an emotional toll.

    Nick, who is a home loan specialist, set up an elaborate and romantic proposal that included a path lined with candles, rose petals and framed photos of the pair

    Nick, who is a home loan specialist, set up an elaborate and romantic proposal that included a path lined with candles, rose petals and framed photos of the pair

    Jessica was a contestant on MasterChef Australia in season 10 in 2018 before returning for season 12 in 2020

    Jessica was a contestant on MasterChef Australia in season 10 in 2018 before returning for season 12 in 2020

    Speaking to PopSugar at the time, Jess said she ‘cried every day’ as a result of the pressure cooker environment.

    Jess was back for Dessert Masters Australia for season one in 2023, where she placed third. 

    ‘Being a viewer is so different to actually being there. I can understand how much stress, hard work and passion these people put into the competition,’ Jess explained.

    ‘I think I cried every day about how badly I wanted to win and how it can really change someone’s life. I’m so glad to have experienced it,’ she added.  

    Jess experienced mixed emotions during her tenure on the show.

    ‘It was good and bad’ the talented cook told the publication. 

    ‘The good was when you never expect to make it far, and the bad side is when you have a bad cook, you come home being regretful and thinking, how embarrassing’.

    Also known as Jess Lemon, Jessica is a pastry chef, author and Head of Innovation and Development at Ned’s Bake in South Yarra, Victoria.  

    She released her first cookbook in 2019, called A Zest of Jess. 

    InstagramMasterchef Australia

  • Melissa Leong hints that she will lift the lid on MasterChef in new book amid rumours she could return to the cooking show

    Melissa Leong hints that she will lift the lid on MasterChef in new book amid rumours she could return to the cooking show

    Melissa Leong has teased that she will be lifting the lid on her time on MasterChef Australia in an upcoming book release.

    The food critic, 43, famously served as a judge on the Channel 10 cooking competition for three years but left last year amid a huge hosting shake-up.

    She has since joined spin-off show Dessert Masters as a judge and has been repeatedly hit by rumours that she could be lining up a return to MasterChef.

    Now, Melissa has hinted that she will be telling all about her time on MasterChef as she teased that she is working on a memoir about her life and career.

    Taking to her Instagram Stories on Friday, Melissa asked fans what they would like to read about in the book, prompting a whole range of responses.

    One eager fan asked her if she would be including any ‘behind the scenes MasterChef stories’, to which Melissa replied that she would be.

    Melissa Leong hints that she will lift the lid on MasterChef in new book amid rumours she could return to the cooking show

    Melissa Leong (pictured) has teased that she will be lifting the lid on her time on MasterChef Australia in an upcoming book release

    In an Instagram post, Melissa teased that she will be dishing on 'a bunch' of 'behind the scenes' MasterChef stories in a memoir she is currently working on

    In an Instagram post, Melissa teased that she will be dishing on ‘a bunch’ of ‘behind the scenes’ MasterChef stories in a memoir she is currently working on 

    ‘Oh there are a bunch, don’t you worry,’ she teased in a cryptic reply.

    She also revealed that she will be discussing other aspects of her career including her little-known passion for UFC while every chapter will also include a recipe.

    However, Melissa urged fans to stop asking her about aspects of her life she has ‘publicly drawn a line’ under as she hinted some things will be off limits in the book.

    ‘Anything I’ve already publicly drawn a line at is off the cards, so please don’t ask me. That’s not really fair on me,’ she shared in another post.

    ‘Thanks so much for all your questions. Aside from that, it’s all in there, but it helps me know what to focus on.’

    Her exciting new project comes after Melissa was hit by rumours she could be lining up a return to MasterChef Australia.

    Melissa left the program last year under a cloud of suspicion about an alleged feud with her former co-host Andy Allen, who still serves as a judge.

    ‘Melissa told Ten that she’ll go back to MasterChef Australia when Andy Allen goes,’ a TV insider recently told Daily Mail Australia.

    The food critic, 43, famously served as a judge on the Channel 10 cooking competition for three years but left last year amid a huge hosting shake-up

    The food critic, 43, famously served as a judge on the Channel 10 cooking competition for three years but left last year amid a huge hosting shake-up

    Her exciting new project comes amid rumours she could be lining up a return to MasterChef following allegations of a 'feud' with her former co-judge Andy Allen (both pictured)

    Her exciting new project comes amid rumours she could be lining up a return to MasterChef following allegations of a ‘feud’ with her former co-judge Andy Allen (both pictured)

    ‘I think the idea of returning to what the show once was for her seems a bit daunting and the only way Melissa would ever return is if the whole format was revamped.’

    Melissa shocked fans when she shared news of her departure to Instagram one day before Network Ten’s 2024 Upfronts.

    ‘The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I’m so glad to do that on my terms, today,’ she penned in a statement last October.

    Melissa’s departure came after claims she had been axed following a string of publicised off-camera dramas.

    She infamously had a blow up with the program’s hair and make-up team along with a substitute freelance hairstylist in 2022. 

    ‘Andy has no beef with Leong,’ the source told Daily Mail Australia. ‘But he previously expressed his former colleague wasted a lot of time in hair and make-up.

    ‘He felt her control over what was filmed was compromised by her perfectionism.’

    Andy returned to the show this year alongside three new judges – media darling Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Melbourne food critic Sofia Levin.

    Melissa has since gone on to take on a new role on MasterChef’s spin-off show Dessert Masters co-judging alongside French-Swiss pastry chef Amaury Guichon.

  • Melissa Leong shares cryptic New Year’s resolutions for 2025 amid rumours she could return to MasterChef Australia

    Melissa Leong shares cryptic New Year’s resolutions for 2025 amid rumours she could return to MasterChef Australia

    Melissa Leong has shared her New Year’s resolutions amid a period of career upheaval. 

    The former MasterChef Australia judge, 42, hinted that busy times are ahead as she revealed her 2025 plans. 

    ‘I am taking it a week at a time, so I am trying to white knuckle it to the end of the year’ she told the Daily Telegraph on Sunday. 

    ‘Hopefully I will be able to celebrate with some friends and just have a little bit of time off to enjoy the weather – should Melbourne deem it to be so’ she added. 

    It comes after Melissa revealed why she thinks people find her intimidating.

    She made the comments when she recently appeared on the Mental As Anyone podcast.

    Melissa Leong shares cryptic New Year’s resolutions for 2025 amid rumours she could return to MasterChef Australia

    Melissa Leong (pictured) has shared her New Year’s resolutions amid a period of career upheaval. The former MasterChef Australia judge, 42, hinted that busy times are ahead as she revealed her 2025 plans

    ‘I am aware that sometimes, by being a little verbose, being a little wordy, word nerdy, that it can intimidate people,’ she remarked.

    Melissa went on to say that her style and the way she carries herself were also ways in which others might think she has a superiority complex. 

    ‘Looking put together makes other people feel like they’re less put together and that is never the intention,’ the television star said.

    ‘I think sometimes when we meet someone who we find a little intimidating, we need to sometimes break that down.

    ‘What is it about this person that’s holding a mirror up to myself and that I feel less than adequate in front of them and kind of work on the critical thinking about that, and suddenly you see them as being maybe a little bit more human and being a little kinder to yourself and hopefully you meet somewhere in the middle.’ 

    It comes as the celebrity food critic might be returning to MasterChef as a judge, but on one very awkward proviso.

    According to a well-placed insider, Leong is putting wheels in motion to return to the cooking competition show, but only if another judge isn’t there.

    ‘Melissa told Ten that she’ll go back to MasterChef Australia when Andy Allen goes,’ a TV insider told Daily Mail Australia.

    'I am taking it a week at a time, so I am trying to white knuckle it to the end of the year' she told the Daily Telegraph on Sunday

    ‘I am taking it a week at a time, so I am trying to white knuckle it to the end of the year’ she told the Daily Telegraph on Sunday

    It comes as the celebrity food critic might be returning to MasterChef as a judge. Pictured with former co-star Andy Allen

    It comes as the celebrity food critic might be returning to MasterChef as a judge. Pictured with former co-star Andy Allen

    ‘I think the idea of returning to what the show once was for her seems a bit daunting and the only way Melissa would ever return is if the whole format was revamped.’ 

    Melissa left MasterChef Australia last year under a cloud of suspicion about an alleged feud with her former co-host Allen.

    Following revelations of backstage tensions between Leong and crew members employed by Ten’s production partner Endemol Shine in 2022, came news she was no longer in the MasterChef Australia line-up.

    Leong shocked fans when she shared news of her departure to Instagram one day before the network’s 2024 Upfronts.

    ‘The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I’m so glad to do that on my terms, today,’ Leong penned last October.

    Meanwhile, affable Allen returned to the show this year alongside three new judges. 

    Media darling Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Melbourne food critic Sofia Levin have all joined. 

    Leong’s departure came after claims she had been axed following a string of publicised off-camera dramas. 

    Leong infamously had a blow up with the program’s hair and make-up team along with a substitute freelance hairstylist in 2022. 

    ‘Andy has no beef with Leong,’ the source told Daily Mail Australia. ‘But he previously expressed his former colleague wasted a lot of time in hair and makeup.

    ‘He felt her control over what was filmed was compromised by her perfectionism.’

    Channel 10 and Endemol Shine did not respond to any of the allegations when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.

  • MasterChef star Matt Preston reveals his surprising number one food destination in the world

    MasterChef star Matt Preston reveals his surprising number one food destination in the world

    Matt Preston has revealed his favourite food destination in the world. 

    The 63-year-old former MasterChef Australia judge has been all over the planet eating the best of the best meals available. 

    But the food guru has a special place in his heart for Portugal – specifically, the regions of Fuseta and Algarve.

    Matt praised the incredible local seafood, which is cooked in traditional rustic methods and arrives fresh at nearby markets. 

    ‘It’s not just local restaurants that benefit but also the streetside grills around the quays’ he tells tells news.com.au. 

     ‘Grilling fish over coals is a passion here and these casual pop-ups with their plastic tables, chairs and paper napkins do solely that – and they do it impeccably whether it’s local turbot, tuna or calamari.’

    MasterChef star Matt Preston reveals his surprising number one food destination in the world

    Matt Preston (pictured) has revealed his favourite food destination in the world. The 63-year-old former MasterChef Australia judge has been all over the planet eating the best of the best meals available

    Matt went on to say that a full meal at his favourite spot, at Café dos Mestres, rings in at under $100.

    ‘The whole fish arrives at the table dressed with little more than some crushed garlic and oil, and is served with boiled potatoes and the simplest of tomato salads with dried oregano’ he said of the delicious dishes on offer.  

    It comes after news that the food critic has decided to hang up his headphones at ABC Melbourne in order to spend more time with his family while pursuing projects outside of radio.

    Matt has been host of the popular Saturday morning program on the station for the last three years. 

    ABC stalwart Jacinta Parsons will be stepping into the role after Preston’s final show on December 14.

    ‘It is a big commitment and the woman I love would like her husband back for the weekends,’ he told the Herald Sun.

    ‘(This decision) allows me to do a whole lot of stuff I have not been able to do. It is time to do the more ridiculous things that I now have the time to do.’

    He told the publication that amongst his personal plans was an ambitious scheme to swim from Albania to Corfu – an annual charity swim of 3kms.

    But the food guru has a special place in his heart for Portugal - specifically, the regions of Fuseta and Algarve (pictured) which have amazing seafood

    But the food guru has a special place in his heart for Portugal – specifically, the regions of Fuseta and Algarve (pictured) which have amazing seafood 

    Matt went on to say that a full meal at his favourite spot, at Café dos Mestres, rings in at under $100. Pictured: Fuseta

    Matt went on to say that a full meal at his favourite spot, at Café dos Mestres, rings in at under $100. Pictured: Fuseta

    Matt also revealed he wanted to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival in India.

    Elsewhere in the chat Matt celebrated his time at he station.

    ‘I have had an amazing three years talking about so much more than food,’ he began.

    ‘Live (radio) is a totally new skill for me, so that has been a big challenge, but I have been able to talk to the most amazing array of people from a whole different selection of worlds, as well as have the immediate interaction with listeners both on the phone line or on the text line.’

    The TV and radio star, who has hosted the ABC show program since 2022, added he would miss doing ‘The Cat and Matt Show’ – a sports segment with Catherine Murphy. 

    Matt rose to fame on MasterChef Australia after joining the reality show in 2009.

    He and fellow judges on the hit cooking show George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, were ousted from the popular cooking show in July 2019. 

    He married wife Emma in 1999 after first meeting her back in 1993, when the British-born foodie moved to Australia with his ex partner. 

    The couple share three children: Jonathan, William, and Sadie. 

    Masterchef AustraliaMatt Preston