Ten reveals new Masterchef judges: Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen
The replacements for Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston have been revealed, with next year’s season of Masterchef on Ten to be fronted by Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen.
The trio of Mehigan, Calombaris and Preston was ditched earlier this year, when contract negotiations with Ten broke down.
There were rumours of the trio demanding astronomical pay rises, and that they were seeking more freedom to pursue other projects. The shake-up also came at a time that Calombaris was facing heat in the media and hospitality industries over underpaying workers.
The new trio will front Masterchef from next year, along with a best-of season: Masterchef Australia – Back to Win. The Back to Win iteration of the show, will feature “the best of the best from the past 11 seasons”, Ten said.
With the exception of Zonfrillo, the team seems to lack the gravitas that pegs them as experts in their field. It looks like the criteria were looks / photogenic quality firstly, and their competence and skills second.
Perhaps I’ll be proven wrong by the great filter of ratings, but this feels like a step backward for the Masterchef brand.
This will go down like a plate of kale.
Mike I disagree. Both Andy and Mel have hosted successful shows with Food Network Australia and SBS Food and have had solid careers in the food space for the better part of a decade. It’s about time there was more diversity and fresh perspectives on our screens.
What was great about Masterchef to me was that the judges were kind of a bit daggy. They had funny spongy faces and hadn’t spent a day in the gyms in their lives. In my opinion – THAT is diversity. When you look at the over-styled, over-dressed and super slim talent that most judges / comperes on Australian TV conform to, it was refreshing to have someone on screen that was relatable in that way.
I have seen Andy and Mel before – and we differ on opinion about their levels of food-competence / gravitas. Personally I find them a bit lightweight compared to the other food talent on offer in this country. You may disagree with that, and that’s cool.
Like I said, I might be proven wrong by ratings. But my spidey-sense is tingling about this line-up. That’s all I’m saying.
Nup.
Very little gravitas – all much of a muchness.
Where’s the oldie?
And winning the show doesn’t make you an expert.
It just makes you the winner of the show.
Hoorah! A woman on the panel at last – and a woman who knows what she’s about as well. Had given up on Masterchef but now the underpaying patriarchy has been replaced by fresh, enthusiastic faces will start watching again.
Outside of the hospitality industry and close followers of it, no one knew who Gary, George or Matt were before the program started, so the gravitas concerns are nonsense.
Mike – you can’t possibly know what you’re talking about. Who outside Melbourne, outside of The Age food pages readers, knew Matt Preston?
When it comes to food, Melbourne is all that matters
I love Masterchef, watch it religiously and I look forward to the 2020 season. I will be like many other Australians. I will tune to the first show next year and make my mind up in about ten minutes as to whether I will stay tuned or be distracted by the internet, Foxtel, Netflix or the other free-to-airs.
The first show that goes to air is going to be massively important.
The gravitas point matters for this reason:
New show, new presenters, no expectations, no problem
Well established (and quite credible) show, unknown presenters, big expectations, big problem – the gap between the “gravitas” of the show itself and the presenters.
Solution – a big refresh of the format, along with a big refresh of the talent