Masterchef’s three new judges will return for Junior Masterchef Australia
Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen will all return for Junior Masterchef Australia which is set to air later this year.
The three judges are hot off their first run as on season 12 of Masterchef which concluded last night to 1.5m metro viewers.
The season proved to be one of the show’s best, and the best in the last few years, despite the controversy surrounding the exit of its longtime former judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan.
Ten announced the season of Junior Masterchef Australia earlier this year, the first since 2011 and the third overall. Leong said it was a pleasure to take another run with a younger set of contestants.
“We are so thrilled to be bringing Junior MasterChef Australia to life very soon. To be showcasing a generation of kids who have grown up with the show and who have literally been cooking for most of their lives, you know this is going to be spectacular,” said Leong.
“Jock, Andy and I are very excited to meet our incredible little cooks, and to see what the next generation has in store.”
A host of cooks across the country aged between nine and 14 will try their luck and test their culinary skills in the Masterchef kitchen. Ten’s head Of drama and executive production, Rick Maier, said the time was right for the show to return.
“It’s been nine years since we last heard the rattle of pots and pans with brilliant young Australians at the pass. High time for a recall, we think – especially at a time when families are sharing more and more adventures in the kitchen together.
“With Melissa, Jock and Andy in charge, we’re all looking forward to discovering the next generation of Pohs, Reynolds and Callums. Their time starts now.”
