After months of speculation, Channel 10 has finally confirmed that celebrity chef and restaurateur Jaimie Oliver will be joining the cast of MasterChef Australia in 2024.
On Thursday, the network confirmed that Oliver, 48, will serve as a guest judge across the first two weeks of the new season.
Joining the much-loved British foodie will be long term MasterChef star Andy Allen and new judge and former MasterChef contestant Poh Ling Yeow.
Also joining the cast as judges are food critic Sofia Levin and restauranteur Jean-Christophe Novell.
The new season, which will air in 2024, has already started filming in Melbourne.
After months of speculation Channel 10 has finally confirmed that celebrity chef and restaurateur Jaimie Oliver will be joining the cast of MasterChef Australia in 2024. Pictured: The new look cast for next season (L-R) food critic Sofia Levin, Oliver, Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, and restauranteur Jean-Christophe Novelli
Meanwhile, TV Tonight reports that Oliver’s two week stint on the coming season will be the longest appearance by any guest judge in the show’s 14-year history.
Jamie first appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef during season four in 2012.
It was previously rumoured that Oliver would replace the late judge Jock Zonfrillo as a permanent judge in a $2million deal.
Oliver will serve as a guest judge across the first two weeks of the new season. TV Tonight reports that Oliver’s two week stint on the coming season will be the longest appearance by any guest judge in the show’s history
The hit cooking contest was thrown into turmoil after judge Jock Zonfrillo’s sudden shock death at age 46 in April Pictured: The former MasterChef Australia cast including Melissa Leong (L) Jock Zonfrillo (cemtre) and Andy Allen (right)
The hit cooking contest was thrown into turmoil after Zonfrillo’s sudden shock death at age 46 in April.
Channel 10 announced soon after it would search for a replacement for the fan favourite.
Judge Melissa Leong subsequently exited the show to launch her own spinoff series Desert Masters.
Since Zonfrillo’s death MasterChef judge Melissa Leong exited the show to launch her own spinoff series Desert Masters (pictured) which has already proven to be a hit with viewers
Following rumours that she was ‘dumped’ from MasterChef, Leon, 41, got her revenge this week after her new show proved to be a hit with viewers.
Dessert Masters had 451,000 fans tuning in across all the major cities on Tuesday night.
Appearing on the sweet series alongside renowned pastry chef Amaury Guichon, Melissa has retained her fanbase and is continuing to win new support.
It comes after the former MasterChef star insisted she has nothing but love for her co-stars at the Channel Ten cooking show, shortly after it was announced she won’t be returning to the series next year.
The hit cooking contest was thrown into turmoil after Zonfrillo’s sudden shock death at age 46 in April. Channel 10 announced it would be searching for a replacement for fan favourite
The food critic and TV personality addressed whispers of a feud between herself and fellow judges Andy Allen and the late Jock Zonfrillo during a candid chat with Daily Mail Australia in The Birdcage at Flemington Racecourse last week.
‘This is not my first rodeo,’ Leong declared, shrugging off the speculative stories as par for the course in the high-stakes world of reality TV.
When pressed about friction on the MasterChef set, Leong said, ‘I have nothing but love and respect for not only Andy but everybody I’ve worked with.’
‘We’re a team, we’re a family, and that’s all you need to know really,’ Melissa added.
READ MORE: Former MasterChef judge Matt Preston breaks his silence on bombshell family secret – and how he broke the news to his children
