Jamie Oliver has shared a first look at his time on MasterChef Australia after joining the cast as a guest judge.
The British celebrity chef shared a number of behind the scenes images to Instagram alongside a lengthy caption in which he paid tribute to the late Jock Zonfrillo.
‘With a very heavy heart I leave the @masterchefau family in the beautiful city of Melbourne after two amazing and busy weeks of filming’ he began.
‘This year was always going to be very very hard with the incredibly sad loss of Jock something that shocked the nation, the hole he has left is vast and irreplaceable. Jock was a one off, a legend and a great man’ he continued.
‘As they say, the show must go on, I wanted to reassure you in Aussie that I personally believe the MC Team have moved forward in a way that feels right.
Jamie Oliver (pictured) has shared a first look at his time on MasterChef Australia after joining the cast as a guest judge
‘I really wanted to be there to support my mate @andyallencooks who really is as brilliant as you think he is, I love him as much as I do Australia…which is a lot!’
Jamie then paid tribute to new judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novell calling them ‘a mighty wholesome team of judges and mentors.’
‘And me, well I’m there when they need me, this time helping kick off the next season but I’ll be back if and when appropriate’ he said.
The chef concluded that the new season is ‘going to be very special’ and called the show ‘world class’.
The British celebrity chef shared a number of behind the scenes images to Instagram alongside a lengthy caption in which he paid tribute to the late Jock Zonfrillo
‘With a very heavy heart I leave the @masterchefau family in the beautiful city of Melbourne after two amazing and busy weeks of filming’ he began
‘This year was always going to be very very hard with the incredibly sad loss of Jock something that shocked the nation, the hole he has left is vast and irreplaceable. Jock was a one off, a legend and a great man’ he continued
Channel Ten recently confirmed that Oliver, 48, will serve as a guest judge during 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 contestant Poh Ling Yeow.
Food critic Sofia Levin and restauranteur Jean-Christophe Novell will also be judges.
The new season, which will air in 2024, has started filming in Melbourne.
Oliver first appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef during season four in 2012.
Channel Ten recently confirmed that Oliver, 48, will serve as a guest judge during the first two weeks of the new season joining the new judges. (L-R) food critic Sofia Levin, Oliver, Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, and restauranteur Jean-Christophe Novelli
It was previously rumoured that he would replace Jock Zonfrillo as a permanent judge for the show in a $2million deal.
The hit cooking contest was thrown into turmoil after Zonfrillo’s shock death at the age of 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 Dessert Masters.
The hit cooking contest was thrown into turmoil after Jock Zonfrillo’s shock death at the age of 46 in April. Pictured: The former MasterChef Australia cast including Melissa Leong (L) Jock Zonfrillo (centre) and Andy Allen (right)
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