MasterChef Australia’s Andy Allen and Melissa Leong ‘could quit the show after it was revealed they were performing as doubles’ – as their replacements are announced
There are rumors about Andy Allen and Melissa Leong returning to MasterChef Australia next year.
And now it has been revealed that both judges could leave the Channel Ten show as it is a ‘package deal’.
According to Woman’s Day, Andy and Melissa are still in negotiations for the show’s next season and will either stay together or leave.
“Andy and Mel are still in negotiations at the moment and it’s a two-pack deal. So if they decide to leave, they’ll need some big names to replace them,” a source said.
“And instead of a traditional three-judge line-up, executives are striving to assemble a pool of judges with superstar names each week.”
MasterChef Australia’s Andy Allen and Melissa Leong could leave the show as it turns out they’re acting as ‘doubles’
The publication claimed Jamie Oliver, Curtis Stone, Shannon Bennett, Poh Ling Yeow and Julie Goodwin had been approached for the next season.
The broadcaster is currently searching for a new celebrity judge for the 2024 season to replace Jock Zonfrillo after his death.
The network is also reportedly considering reintroducing “traditional” names like original judges George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan to the series to attract older viewers.
Jock died in his hotel room at Zagame’s House on Lygon Street in Carlton, Melbourne on April 30 and was found by police around 2am on Monday May 1 – the same day that Channel Ten celebrated its fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia.
He is survived by his third wife Lauren and his four children: adult daughters Ava and Sophia from his first two marriages, and Alfie and Isla with Lauren.
According to Woman’s Day, Andy and Melissa are still in negotiations for the show’s next season and will either stay together or leave. The broadcaster is currently looking for a new judge for the 2024 season to replace Jock Zonfrillo after his death
The publication claimed Jamie Oliver, Curtis Stone (left), Shannon Bennett, Poh Ling Yeow (right) and Julie Goodwin had been approached to appear next season
The media personality was slated for several promotional appearances for Season 15 of MasterChef when he suddenly passed away.
Chron Australia can reveal that when police entered the hotel room to conduct a social check, officers believed Jock had died of natural causes and found nothing to suggest otherwise.
According to sources, no drug paraphernalia were found in the hotel room either.
Heartbroken, Lauren said at his funeral, “We were two halves who found each other at just the right moment in life when we were ready.”
“We were ready for this great love, a life of adventure, becoming parents together, imagining things and actually making them happen.”
Jock died in his hotel room at Zagame’s House on Lygon Street in Carlton, Melbourne. He was found by police around 2am on Monday 1 May – the same day that Channel Ten was due to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia