Poh Ling Yeow Reveals Logies Secret After Top Nomination

MasterChef judge Poh Ling Yeow has blown the lid off one of the TV industry’s best-kept secrets – revealing that Gold Logie nominees are quietly told weeks in advance, despite the fanfare of a live announcement.

Appearing on The Project on Monday night, the beloved culinary star, 51, revealed she was informed of her Gold Logie nomination three weeks ago – and had to keep it a secret from everyone, including her closest friends and family.

‘Big Gold Logie nomination,’ Sarah Harris teased, before asking how she found out.

‘Ah, well, I got, I found out actually about three weeks ago,’ she said.

‘So I had to… mum’s the word, and it was quite hard to keep away from, you know, close friends and family. Uh, but I was really shocked.’

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MasterChef judge Poh Ling Yeow (pictured) has blown the lid off one of the TV industry’s best-kept secrets – revealing that Gold Logie nominees are quietly told weeks in advance

The nominees were announced a press conference at the Sydney Opera House on Monday morning. (Pictured L-R: Allison Langdon, Lisa Millar, Hamish Blake, Julia Morris, Poh Ling Yeow and Sonia Kruger)

Poh recalled being pulled aside after filming an episode of Have You Been Paying Attention? by a Network Ten publicist.

‘I’d actually just done Have You Been Paying Attention? and a Channel Ten publicist pulled me aside and said, “Oh, just got a little bit of housekeeping to do”‘ she explained.

‘I was kind of milling around with the comedians – because I’m a bit of a… you know, like hanging out with comedians – and she’s like, “Just hang out in the corridor for a bit.”

‘She sat me down in the boardroom and said, “So…” I thought she was going to leave or I thought it was about her – because I love her. And she goes, “Ah, so yeah, you’ve been known for…” and I was just so bamboozled. I couldn’t believe it.’

‘Yeah. I was speechless. I just… yeah. I’m still feeling a little bit odd about it.’

When asked if it had sunk in, Poh replied, ‘Can’t… I can’t. It’s hard to process.’

Her candid admission has stunned fans – as it’s the first time a TV star has publicly revealed that Logie nominees are privately informed weeks before the annual ‘reveal’ to the media.

Poh joined the MasterChef judging panel in 2023 and quickly won over audiences with her warmth, humour and no-nonsense approach to food.

‘I found out actually about three weeks ago,’ she said. ‘So I had to… mum’s the word, and it was quite hard to keep away from, you know, close friends and family. Uh, but I was really shocked’

The news comes just days after Daily Mail Australia revealed that Poh has signed on to return for the MasterChef 2026, putting an end to recent speculation she was preparing to bow out.

A spokesperson for the popular chef flatly denied the claims, revealing: ‘There’s no truth to the speculation. Poh is loving her time on MasterChef and feels like she’s found her place.’

It follows a report by New Idea earlier this week suggesting Poh was considering leaving the series, prompting executives to quietly begin scouting a new judge to join Andy Allen, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli at the judging table.

Among the names floated as a potential replacement? None other than fan favourite Julie Goodwin – the very contestant who beat Poh to win the first season of MasterChef back in 2009.