Celebrity MasterChef to ‘replace’ Junior MasterChef… almost a decade after the last star-studded season
Celebrity MasterChef Australia last hit screens back in 2009.
But according to a new report, the star-studded show could be making a grand return to Channel Ten almost a decade after the last episode aired.
On Sunday, New Idea claimed the celebrity season would be coming back in place of Junior MasterChef, which returned in 2020 after a nine-year hiatus to mediocre ratings.
Coming back? According to a new report, Celebrity MasterChef could be returning to screens soon. Pictured: Judge Melissa Leong
‘MasterChef Junior is out and Celebrity MasterChef is in!’ the source said, adding that the show’s current judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo would be fronting the new season.
The insider also added that with the success of shows such as Dancing With The Stars: All Stars and SAS Australia, TV bosses are wanting to sign on talent ‘as quickly and as cheaply as possible’.
Daily Mail Australia have contacted Channel Ten for further comment.
In the show’s 2009 season, stars such as Michelle Bridges, Rachael Finch and cricketer Simon Katich took part in the show.
Champion: In 2009, Olympic freestyle swimmer Eamon Sullivan won the show out of the 18 participants who took part, and took home $50,000 for charity Swim Survive Stay Alive
But it was Olympic freestyle swimmer Eamon Sullivan who won out of the 18 participants who took part, and took home $50,000 for charity Swim Survive Stay Alive.
Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan were all judges at the time.
Meanwhile, Junior MasterChef debuted to ratings of 524,000 metro viewers when it aired last October – which was half of what the main season saw for it’s April 2020 premiere.
Judges: ‘MasterChef Junior is out and Celebrity MasterChef is in!’ the source said, adding that Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo will be fronting the new season. Pictured: Jock with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay
However, as predicted by Ten, the ratings did grow week on week – and pulled in 881,000 metro viewers for its grand final.
Young cook Georgia, 11, was crowned the winner and walked away with $25,000 prize money after beating runners-up Filo and Carter, both 12.
She said after winning: ‘I’m so surprised. From the beginning my goal was just to make it past the first week. To win this competition was such a surprise.’
Congratulations: Young cook Georgia, 11, was crowned the winner and walked away with $25,000 prize money after beating runners-up Filo and Carter, both 12