Celebrity MasterChef a huge hit with fans: 'Exactly what we need'

The highly-anticipated new season of Celebrity MasterChef kicked off on Sunday night and it looks like Aussie viewers loved digging into the all-star spin-off series.

Hosted by judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo, Celebrity MasterChef sees a cast of famous faces go head-to-head in a cooking showdown to raise funds for charity.

Celebrity spin-off 'absolutely wonderful'

And going by the reactions on social media, fans loved tucking into the piping hot serving of 'positive, wholesome' celeb goodness.

"Being able to watch something this positive and light hearted is exactly what is needed at this point in Melbourne lockdown," wrote one viewer on Twitter.

"Already love celebrity #MasterChefAU," added another.

"So this season of Celebrity #MasterChefAU is absolutely wonderful. The best wholesome vibes. Exactly what we need right now! Can’t wait for the next episode!" declared a third.

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Others were particularly pleased with the eclectic mix of sporting heroes, music icons and TV stars.

"Channel 10 has nailed this series cast! So wholesome," tweeted a fan.

"A great line up! Finding it really interesting so far. Normal dishes!!!" added another.

"So excited to be watching Celebrity MasterChef!!! Some wonderful peeps in there," wrote a third.

Just to recap, our ten Aussie celebs are:

Soccer player Archie Thompson, 42; TV and radio host Chrissie Swan, 47; fashion designer Collette Dinnigan, 55; Singer Dami Im, 32, Singer; Comedian Dilruk Jayasinha, 36; former Olympian Ian Thorpe, 38; Offspring actor Matt Le Nevez, 42; AFL player Nick Riewoldt, 38; Packed To The Rafters actress Rebecca Gibney, 56 and cooking progeny Tilly Ramsay, 19.

There were already some fan favourites emerging, with the unexpected comedic duo of Chrissie Swan and Rebecca Gibney proving popular.

"Let’s keep Gibney and Swan on the same bench all season yeah?" tweeted a viewer.

Others praised Ian Thorpe for jumping in to help his fellow contestants after finishing up his own dish.

"Thorpie helping out the others. I bloody love him," one wrote.

One viewer was pleasantly surprised by the teen offspring of famous TV chef, Gordon Ramsay.

"This is my first watch of anything Tilly Ramsay related and how great is she? Love it," they remarked.

An Offspring fan couldn't help but reference star Matt Le Nevez and the tragic death of his beloved character, Dr Patrick Reid.

"Patrick back to haunt us again," they quipped.

In the end, it was funnyman Dilruk Jayasinha who was awarded the coveted Immunity Pin for his stellar beef rendang with coconut rice.

Shop Melissa's premiere look

Fans also had a lot of love for foodie fashionista, Melissa Leong, who set the new season off with a bang in a black and white printed mini dress featuring puff sleeves and a flirty ruffled hem.

She stunned in the Animalia Night Mini Dress ($419.40) by Chinese-Australian designer Leo Lin.

The bold 'Animalia Night' print is also available in an edgy, asymmetric frock which is currently on sale for $199.50 on The Iconic.

Celebrity MasterChef airs 7.30 Sundays & Mondays on 10.

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