MasterChef Australia fans have taken to social media after noticing fan a favourite contestant was strangely absent from several key challenges last week.
Tasmanian butcher Josh ‘Pezza’ Perry, 43, did not appear in last week’s Elimination or immunity challenge, prompting the hashtag #WheresPezza as confused fans asked where he was.
‘So is @masterchefau going to address why Pezza isn’t appearing this ep again?’ one fan asked and a second added: ‘A statement relating to #WheresPezza is required.’
A Channel Ten spokesperson later issued a statement confirming that Pezza had not quit the series, but had to sit out several episodes due to an illness.
‘Perry was unwell and absent from the kitchen for two challenges,’ they told Yahoo.
MasterChef Australia fans have taken to social media after noticing fan a favourite contestant Josh ‘Pezza’ Perry was strangely absent from several key challenges last week. (Pictured: The judging panel)
They were quick to reassure fans that Perry’s absence would not affect his standing in the competitive cooking series.
‘As per competition protocol following a missed elimination challenge, Josh went straight into the next elimination challenge upon his return.’
It comes after eagle-eyed fans noticed another contestant was absent from a key MasterChef trailer.
Tasmanian butcher Josh ‘Pezza’ Perry (pictured), 43, did not appear in last week’s Elimination or immunity challenge, prompting the hashtag #WheresPezza as confused fans enquired about his whereabouts
Last month, the series aired its gripping Redemption episode, in which former contestants return to cook for the current ones.
However, viewers noticed that recently eliminated fan favourite Stephen Dennis, 62, wasn’t among them.
The popular tour guide from Queensland was left heartbroken when he was eliminated, during a nail-biting episode.
Fans took to social media to ask why Dennis was absent from the episode, with one writing: ‘Super gutted about Stephen’.
A Channel Ten spokesperson later issued a statement confirming that Pezza had not quit the series, but had to sit out several episodes due to an illness
Stephen later opened up about the reason he was absent, revealing he had to visit the hospital to care for his sick mother.
‘My mother is in hospital and is very unwell. My father passed away during Covid, so I need to support my mother and it would be unfair on my family to return to filming with this in mind,’ he told Yahoo.
Upon hearing the sad news, fellow eliminated contestant Juan De La Cruz – who is returning for the special – posted a heartfelt statement on social media: ‘I’ll miss you tonight @stevowildchef. Take care of your mum.’
