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Brent Draper wins MasterChef 2023

Queenslander Brent Draper, who quit MasterChef Season 13, has triumphed as Season 15 Champion.

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Brent Draper has won MasterChef Australia 2023 winning $250,000.

He defeated fellow Queenlander Rhiannon Anderson with 63 points over 52 points.

For Draper who withdrew from series 13 citing mental health concerns, it was a triumphant personal victory.

The grand final cook began with a challenge to “Cook a Dish that Tells a Story” as set by Melissa Leong.

Brent cooked a Pork Chop with tamarind ketchup glaze, roased cabbage and salsa, at 29 points.

Rhiannon served a Crispy Pork Belly with citrus caramel, fennel & orange salad and crispy shallots, scoring 25 points.

Round two cleverly saw the arrival of French patissiere Amaury Guichon who will co-host Dessert Masters for 10 later this year. He unveiled a pressure test of a “Pocket Watch” dessert made of chocolate and coffee. But it proved to be a challenging 5.40 hr cook with both serving imperfect dishes.

Although Brent did not nail a sugar dome, the taste was prasied, scoring 34 points.

Rhiannon had accidentally double-dipped part of her chocolate element with textures criticised, at 27 points. As Runner-Up she wins $40,000. Third-place Declan wins $10,000.

The show also paid an emotional tribute to Jock Zonfrillo’s final appearance following his tragic death in April, including with candid behind the scenes shots.

“Give it up for Jock Zonfrillo…”

Casting is now open for 2024.

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This post updates.

19 Responses

  1. i was happy for Brent to win but like others would have liked Declan to be in the finale. When Rhiannon started pouring the chocolate cream instead of the glaze over it everyone on the gantry was screaming at her I couldn’t believe she didn’t hear them. Was a beautiful tribute to Jock at the end. Was very emotional watching it. Hard to believe he’s only been on MasterChef for 3 years. It feels like so much longer.

  2. This was another terrific season, albeit one that really played the heart strings for one massively tragic reason. I loved Brent’s journey to becoming a deserved winner and was bawling my eyes out for the pride and kinship Jock showed towards him, knowing a tribute would be bookending the episode. I do hope Andy and Mel continue with the show because they are still so fabulously well suited.

  3. A lovely and heartfelt tribute to Jock, but the final itself was rather mundane and predictable, I think we all knew Brent was going to win. Rhiannon’s a nice person, but really Declan or Theo would have been better opposition for Brent in the big one.
    Anyway, good luck to him, he’s a very likeable bloke and you have to admire anyone who’s conquered mental health challenges.

  4. I didn’t watch the finale but the tribute to the late Jock Zonfrillo nearly had tears in my eyes. I cannot believe it’s been 2.5 months since his sudden death.
    I will have the chance to see the finale on 10Play so that I will get the chance to see the tribute to late Jock. May he rest in peace.

  5. Congratulations to Brent! Well deserved. And very happy that Rhiannon and Declan won some money too. It was a great effort from Rhiannon too. And I loved that tribute to Jock at the end.

      1. Exactly so sick of that some people always think every reality show is fixed some of them do some gentle manipulation I’m sure, but if any show is above reproach it’s Masterchef.

  7. It was fitting that Brent won, it appeared that Jock was feeling close to him and what he had been through but the most fitting part was the tribute to Jock…..so sad that we wont see him again…give it up for Jock Zonfrillo..:(

  8. Happy to see Brent win. He’d be over the moon with the win.

    And sadly, we all knew that there was going to be a mention at the end of the show regarding Jock. But the tribute was touching, and well presented, and am sure many had shed a tear. Give it up to Jock Zonfrillo.

  9. Who didn’t see that coming a mile off? I’m sorry but I wasn’t happy with him and Rhiannon being the final two. Declan was far the better cook and he was robbed.

    1. Wasn’t robbed, Declan failed in a previous challenge. It comes down to best on the night cooks, he failed in the final service challenge.

  10. What a lovely tribute to Jock at the end. To finish with his quote about having a cup of tea then the words give it up for Jock just beautiful.

    We knew this was coming but it’s hard to fathom we won’t hear or see him on our screens again.

  11. I doubt that many who watched MasterChef tonight would not have shed a tear knowing that we were seeing that last of Jock. It was almost at times that you saw in his eyes what was coming. The touching tribute at the end certainly had my tears flowing and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Congratulations to Brent…a most appropriate arc in his story and the support he had from Jock!

  12. What a great finale. Liked the inclusion of Amaury. Am so happy for Brent.
    David, is that the largest winning margin in a finale?
    I always thought it was Brent’s to lose.
    Loved how proud Jock was of Brent. I hope Brent is good after the loss of Jock.
    The tribute to Jock was absolutely wonderful and it bought me to tears.

    1. “I always thought it was Brent’s to lose.”
      I don’t watch MasterChef as it goes wayyyyy too long for me. But I was at someone’s house about 2 weeks ago and watched an episode. Maybe it was a 1 off, but it was clear to me that Brent was clearly superior to the remaining 5 or 6 contestants at the time. I was then very surprised to see the poll results here suggesting that people thought someone else would win. Thought nothing more of it until seeing the final results tonight and not being surprised at all.

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