Melissa Leong will front a new documentary series on SBS about Australia’s health system.
The TV star, 42, who will not be returning to MasterChef next season, is set to host the docuseries The Hospital: In The Deep End.
Melissa will front the show alongside Samuel Johnson and Costa Georgiadis, as reported by The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.
‘I think there was a big question mark last week as to the why [Leong exited MasterChef], and so this week is where the other shoe drops,’ she said.
The show will see the trio spend time with medical professionals at St Vincent’s Hospital to further understand health challenges in Australia.
Melissa Leong has revealed her shock new TV project after her sudden exit from MasterChef
Melissa will host the SBS documentary The Hospital: In The Deep End, alongside Samuel Johnson and Costa Georgiadis. All pictured
‘This is such a joyous moment for me in my career and I am so excited to finally be able to tell people about it,’ Melissa said of her next step.
The journalist and food critic went on to describe the show as ‘full of heart’ and ‘incredible people’ who are committed to saving lives.
‘I am able to extend who I am and give myself the opportunity to show Australia who else I can be and the other facets of what lights me up,’ she finished.
Meanwhile, Melissa will still star on the upcoming MasterChef: Dessert Masters on Channel 10, alongside Amaury Guichon.
It comes as Leong broke her silence after the widow of her late co-star Jock Zonfrillo, Lauren Fried, sparked rumours of a behind-the-scenes feud.
Fried raised eyebrows last week after she conspicuously failed to mention Leong in a post reacting to the new MasterChef Australia lineup.
Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren Fried (both pictured) raised eyebrows after she conspicuously failed to mention Leong in a post reacting to the new MasterChef Australia lineup
She also appeared to take another dig at Leong by saying the new judges ‘respect the privilege of being part of an extraordinary show’.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Leong defended her strong personality and insisted she won’t stop being ‘unapologetically’ herself.
‘I like to be direct. I like to be heartfelt in everything that I strive to be as real,’ she told the Herald Sun.
‘We are all humans, humans are complex and you are allowed to have off days. For me it’s about being real and that resonates with people.’
Leong defended her strong personality and insisted won’t stop being ‘unapologetically’ herself. Pictured
The upcoming sixteenth season of MasterChef Australia will see three new judges – series alum Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and food critic Sofia Levin – join returning host Andy Allen.
It comes after Jock’s widow Fried took to Instagram to say Zonfrillo would be ‘very happy’ with the new line-up of MasterChef Australia.
Her remark has sparked speculation that Jock , who died on April 30 of natural causes at the age of 46, did not get along with Leong behind the scenes.
Leong, who starred as a judge in the reality hit for four years, maintains she left the program ‘on her own terms’ Pictured: Leong, with the late Jock Zonfrilo (L) and Andy Allen (R)
