MasterChef hopeful Callum Hann reveals he almost quit the show to be with his family

He’s in the top eight, but Callum Hann has revealed he almost quit the current season of MasterChef.

In an interview with TV WEEK on Monday, the 31-year-old Back to Win hopeful admitted the coronavirus pandemic caused him to reconsider his priorities.

Callum said he was filming MasterChef in Melbourne, while his wife Chrystal and baby daughter Elle were in Adelaide when lockdown came into effect.   

‘It was really difficult,’ he told the publication. 

‘When the South Australian border looked like closing, I had to really think about what I was going to do. I couldn’t face being separated from Chrystal and Elle for weeks.’

Even before coronavirus hit, Callum admitted it was a difficult decision to leave his wife of two years and eight-month-old daughter at home in Adelaide for the duration of the show. 

‘I love being a dad – it’s such a special time,’ he explained. 

He added: ‘I take the competition very seriously, but there’s more to life than cooking.’

The pandemic almost became too much for him to bear, and with Callum ready to turn his back on the show, Chrystal and Elle rushed to Melbourne to be with him before state borders closed. 

Callum said the show was understanding, allowing his wife and daughter to stay with him in his hotel room as filming continued.  

‘We were given special permission to be together so I could stay in the show. That was a big part in me being able to carry on,’ he explained.

Sharing photos of his adorable daughter on Instagram last month, Callum reiterated: ‘I love being a Dad.’