Masterchef Australia new series

[Magnalux]

My favourite show, I see it’s back on Monday on W, it’s going to be very strange watching this series knowing Jock has passed away. I really liked him.

I'm now wondering if the budget is why there was only 18 contestants this year instead of the usual 24.

Yeah there is usually 60+ episodes so this year was shorter.

They are starting a new spin off as well with Mel and Aumaury (?) The guest chef from the final.

I wondered was the shorter season also maybe due to Jock’s health. I read he was having treatment for bowel cancer. And he definitely didn’t look well at times.

I do like Brent, but it's either octopus or pork, so I did find him boring. Was only one winner out of the two finalists though.
As always, disappointed with a pressure test in the final - just doesn't seem fair.

Very sad ending though. I will miss him from the show, he brought a lot to it and I loved watching him and Andy together 😢

I do like Brent, but it's either octopus or pork, so I did find him boring

That's true of so many of the contestants though, curry, Chinese, desert etc. Its understandable, playing to their strengths.

Declan was my winner. It was a shame he overstretched himself in the semi final. Glad he got some cash as a prize.

I did think the same about Brent always seeming to do octopus (I did like him though), my pet peeve is usually the constant pasta makers

Mine was the dessert queens. Didn't see them so much this year but there were a few in previous seasons.

Brent was at a huge advantage having competed before.

I'm just watching the final but the second challenge is so irrelevant I'm not going to bother. Ive just googled who won, no surprise. I felt the cooks were quite unimpressive this year and the dishes got repetitive. Bring back the good old days when we used to see them in the house and waiting to find out who had stayed in. There's also been so many great challenges over the years I wish they would do more of them, E.g. taste tests etc

News about the judges line up for next year.

Melissa is gone? She seemed quieter this year. And Pho is back - that doesn't surprise me.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12662003/MasterChef-Australia-Melissa-Leong-new-project-Dessert-Masters.html

Interesting new line up. I’m not sure but wasn’t about Jock, Andy and Melissa either and ended up really enjoying them as hosts. Jean Christophe Novelli an interesting choice. I was expecting someone like Manu Fiedel or similar.

Ah I’m so sad, I just finished watching the series today. There’s so many episodes after about two weeks I am behind! I loved the series, it was much more home cook style than other years, though protein in the pressure cooker, finished on the hibachi or oven with a salad seemed to feature heavily. If you could do that well you were golden. I enjoyed most of the contestants, how Rhiannon got to the final amazes me. The final was so one sided. I agree with other posters though a pressure test for a final is not fair. I always fast forward the pressure tests. I was happy enough to see Brent win but he had such an advantage over the others having done it all before he was always going to do well. I do find the over emotional language a bit much though, they’re always crying about how how much the plate of food means to them. Get a grip people

I see Melissa is gone for next year, I didn’t particularly love her but didn’t dislike her either. Will be interesting to see how next year goes.

it’s just so tragic about Jock. Anyway that’s it for another year, definitely way shorter as it usually goes on into November.

I love Poh, happy she'll be judging. It is a very interesting line up for sure.

I've always been intrigued about Jock's Caim Worry Beads and went online to have a look. They came through the post today with a message from his wife Loz

Oh that’s so lovely @OnTheBoardwalk.