A New Season of MasterChef Australia is Here
Culinary enthusiasts across Australia are in for a treat as MasterChef Australia returns for its 2026 season. Fans of the show will be thrilled to see some familiar faces make a comeback, including Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and the esteemed French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. With such an impressive lineup of judges, the anticipation for this year’s competition is at an all-time high.
Jean-Christophe Novelli, who has made a name for himself in the culinary world, recently shared his thoughts on stepping into the iconic role of a judge on MasterChef. His journey into the world of the show began with a sense of awe and excitement.
“It’s like joining the cast of Neighbours… It’s surreal,” he said. “Those legacy doors, iconic doors, and the clock; everybody knows them around the world. I stepped onto the best cooking show in the world and… I had to keep trying to organise the way I breathe.”
Despite the initial nerves, Jean-Christophe quickly found his footing and formed strong bonds with the other judges. One of the most notable relationships was with guest judge Jamie Oliver.
“I’ve met most other celebrity [chefs] and top chefs but, for some reason, I’d never met Jamie Oliver before. But he is a superb human being… Many times [during filming], he invited us, the judges, out,” he shared.
“And I discovered what a lovely human he was. There were just so many moments I’ll never forget as long as I live.”
As the new season approaches, fans are eager to find out what to expect from the upcoming contestants. While Jean-Christophe was cautious about revealing too much, he did offer some insight into the talent that will be competing.
“I could see straightaway who was going to be a threat or who was going to do very well. But the thing is, they all do very well. On day one, they all seemed to know what they were doing. And I actually forgot they’re not professional chefs, they’re amateur cooks.”
This level of skill surprised even Jean-Christophe, who has spent over 15 years running the Novelli Academy Cookery School. He admitted that he had to rethink his usual teaching methods.
“I did not know where to start because the standard was already, quite surprisingly, very high already. And I was flabbergasted by the vibe… You could see [the contestants] were excited and full of vibe. You could see they were like, ‘We’re gonna give this everything we’ve got.’”
For those who are eager to watch the new season, Jean-Christophe has a few words of advice.
“Drink a lot of water when you’re watching the show, because you’re going to be going through a lot of emotions,” he joked before adding in a more serious tone: “You can’t miss this year, it’s unbelievable what’s going to happen.”
The new season of MasterChef Australia will premiere on Monday, April 22 on Channel Ten and 10play. With such an exciting lineup of judges and contestants, it promises to be a season filled with talent, drama, and unforgettable moments.
