MasterChef Australia judges out for 2020
Updated: 10 fails to reach agreement but George, Gary & Matt claim it was never about the money.
- Published by David Knox
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10 has confirmed all three MasterChef Australia judges will not be returning in 2020, after failing to reach contract arrangements.
The shock announcement comes just hours before the 2019 grand final, now set to serve as their swan song.
It also follows a string of headlines and social media posts calling for the network to dump George Calombaris over staff underpayments by MAdE Establishment. Only last week the network was backing it’s judge of 11 seasons.
Network 10 chief executive officer Paul Anderson said: “Despite months of negotiation, 10 has not been able to reach a commercial agreement that was satisfactory to Matt, Gary and George.
“Across 11 sensational seasons, MasterChef Australia has established itself as one of the most popular and respected cooking television series around the world. For more than a decade, the iconic series has shaped and driven the Australian public’s passion for food and cooking, delivered iconic television moments, and made the culinary dreams of everyday home cooks come true.
“We would like to thank Gary, George and Matt for their contribution over the past 11 years,” he said.
“MasterChef Australia has always been about ordinary Australians doing extraordinary things for the love of food and we believe it is very important to continue that ethos.
“Australia is full of remarkable cooking talent and we can’t wait to introduce another group – and the next generation of exceptional judges – in season 12 of MasterChef Australia next year.”
Who Magazine claims Maggie Beer, Curtis Stone, and Poh Ling Yeow will replace the trio.
Updated:
On Instagram Matt Preston said:
Thank you so very much for supporting @masterchefau over the last 11 years. We have loved every single moment.
It is however with a heavy heart that I can confirm that season 11 was our last.
We were really keen to continue but we were unable to agree to all terms for the new contract.
We have enjoyed 11 wonderful years on Masterchef Australia with Network Ten, and I want to take this opportunity to thank Ten for this amazing opportunity and for Network Ten’s backing of this very special show.
We have met some beautiful people, discovered and guided some of the brightest up-and-comers in the Australian food scene, worked with the best chefs in the world in front of the camera, and with the TV industry’s finest professionals behind the scenes.
And of course, we three judges have formed a lifelong friendship that will live on far beyond the show.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you and everyone who has shared our amazing journey with us – especially all those fantastic contestants.
I look forward to sharing many more adventures with you in the future.
And finally I wish the new judges all the best with the show that we love so much.
Thank you all.
I don’t want to take any gloss off tonight’s well deserved winner so I will not be making any further comment.
Love Matt.
To all of our fans ‘thank you’ To the team that makes MasterChef ‘thank you’ and to all of the contestants that we know and love, we are all part of a very exclusive club and what a journey what an experience. To explain: ‘It was time to move on, have more free time to explore our own creativity’ It was never about the money and never will be about the money. We couldn’t agree on the term of the new contract for 2020 and season 12. Something we felt very strongly about. The opportunity to work with Matt and George has been a blessing and something I cherish. Working together will continue to be the most important thing for us…..the three musketeers…….?
@masterchefau geez you have warmed our hearts, filled our stomachs and sizzled our souls.
To the great contestants of the past 11 years, you ought to be proud.
To the incredible @masterchefau team that works so hard to make the best cooking show on earth, we salute you.
To our families, friends and teams who have supported us, you freakin’ rock.
We were close to signing a new contract for season 12 however the dates just didn’t align. Channel Ten, thank you for providing us the platform to change the landscape of food worldwide.
To the next 3 judges and mentors, we wish you loads of success.
To my brothers @mattscravat and @garymehigan: I love you and thank you. Time to take a deep breath and be thankful.
With love
GC ? xxx
80 Responses
Its a big call from 10 – no matter what their ask was. MasterChef is the only reason their entire schedule is even vaguely of consequence to advertisers for 3 months of the year. Their numbers tend to fall off a cliff when MC isn’t on.
I’d be shocked if MC12 gets even close to the numbers of series 11 – so 10 are going to really struggle to be able to fund an expensive show like MasterChef (even with cheaper presenters) if it only pulls in 400,000 a night (say).
I love MasterChef, and hope the numbers next year enable it to continue. But its a massive risk – the Calombaris thing would have blown over by next series as the current peak Schadenfreude subsides.
Not only that but the show is shown in 180 countries. Even if they pay them overs and make a loss on the original broadcast surely that loss is offset by the international broadcasts.
Who on earth will takeover now?
Coming soon to Amazon Prime… “Chef Master”… ?!
The Grand Kitchen?
These gentlemen…are Masterchef….Many ready to hang George out to dry….I have been following this from the beginning…he is not the evil bad guy….It is all very sad….I just wish them all well…Not sure about the future of the show.
One can only assume that Matt and Gary proved to be as greedy as George when it came to the negotiations. Good on TEN for not caving. Time to give others a go.
Poh, Matt S and Billie to take over…. been training them up this year.
I recently said on this site that even though I’m still loving it MC might need a bit of a refresh to keep the masses interested but I didn’t mean this. I do think given Ten’s statement and other reports it is somewhat of a coincidence. But gee Ten will need to choose their replacements carefully. You can see an Australian version of the Top Gear situation coming…. Doubt it will happen but Nigella Lawson would be a good replacement.
Maybe they are eying off Curtis Stone? Or there are many professional chefs they have in that come across really well and of course past contestants, (just not Matt Sinclair!)
It could probably do with a refresh anyways!
Wow shocking. Rumours re 1 goes they all go must have been true. I stopped watching this years ago tbh. But still shocking. End of an era.
Guess its time to move on for them anyway. I wonder if Ten will still bring it back or rest it for a year.. no idea what would replace it tho.
Pay Nigella or Ramsey in to come onboard as a head judge with 2 newbies including Poh!!
Maybe they are taking a leaf from Today. One stuffs up and they are all out. Or maybe they can join the Stefanovics in a new show called Uber Eats.
Ten decided that if George wasn’t paying employees in full, why should they.
Totally agree with this comment lol.
Couldnt reach an agreement… rich hahaha
This is so dumb! Sure if you really have to replace George go for it but Gary and Matt No!! I watch this show a lot because of the current judges just like i watched big brother because of Gretel but remove that interest and you can dull the show & lets not forget how popular the judges are in other markets.
A big surprise, the show won’t be the same without Gary, George & Matt.
Maybe some past contestants will get a gig – Julie Goodwin would be great & she’s loved by the public.
Maybe someone like Daniel Churchill or Hayden Quinn.
Only time will tell.
And with that, Masterchef is dead. I loved all 3 judges and it just won’t be the same without them.
I’m sure it’s a total coincidence all three decided to leave at the same time…Who knows…
I wonder if Master Chef will even survive with all three judges going. Such a pity, still the original and best competitive cooking show.
Their tiresome stock platitudes got old years ago. I can’t help but cringe whenever they speak.
Would Ian “Huey” Hewitson be interested in returning to television? He has always come across as personable and warmly paternal, and being a longtime Network 10 personality would be right at home.
I would also expect a prior Masterchef contestant (Poh?) to join the ranks as well.
I love Huey – such a great home cook. I interviewed him once & he was exactly what you would expect – great bloke.
Absolutely gobsmacked. What a shame and great loss of three great TV personalities. Bet MKR will be on the phone as we speak…..
Great news. If Preston and Mehigan wanna support Calombaris then none of them deserve to have that TV gig.
Refresh the franchise.
Matt and Gary has said if they sacked George, all three will be going. Matt and George are particularly close.
Goodbye Masterchef.
Unless they all wanted to go and do something different, there goes their main income.
I wrote yesterday that I remember reading about a ‘one out – all out’ pact between the three of them some time ago….
Matt & Gary have taken one for the team
That’s huge news. Perhaps ratings may be a part of the decision making from Ten. Admittedly there had to be an end game at some point. Be interesting to see who replaces them.
Bummer. Coincidence? I suspect not too much. Sad though.