MasterChef 2024: Channel 10 announces major international change

MasterChef Australia has announced that the cooking competition will be heading overseas for the first time since season nine in 2017.

Channel 10 revealed on Monday morning that the reality show’s upcoming sixteenth season will film “three mouth-watering episodes” in Hong Kong, which is home to 77 Michelin-starred restaurants and over 15,000 dining establishments.

This trip will mark the second time MasterChef has filmed in Hong Kong after season one in 2009. The series has since travelled to London, Paris, New York, Italy, Dubai, America and Japan, although the past six seasons have stayed in Australia.

The show’s upcoming visit to Hong Kong is in association with Hong Kong Tourism Board and Cathay Pacific Airways, and will “showcase iconic landmarks and bring the city’s intrinsic east-meets-west culture to our screens”.

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In a statement from Channel 10, Andy Allen admitted he’s never been to Hong Kong before but he’s “been really interested in the place for a long time”.

“That’s because I see the city's array of food is off the charts: it’s a melting pot of different cultures, bold flavours, and one-of-a-kind ingredients,” he said.

“Blending Michelin-starred restaurants with bustling street markets, it seems to have this world-class food culture going on. It's so good that now myself, the other judges, and contestants can finally get amongst it this season.”

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While Melissa Leong has stepped back from MasterChef to prioritise her role on Dessert Masters, her co-star Andy Allen will return for season 16 to continue the legacy of the late Jock Zonfrillo.

He will be joined by season one runner-up Poh Ling Yeow, food critic and journalist Sofia Levin, and multi-Michelin Star award-winning chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

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Andy said in a statement: “MasterChef Australia has been part of my life for over a decade. It gave me a pathway into the industry and led me to a career that I'm forever grateful for. After an extremely difficult year in 2023, and upon reflection, the decision to return to the series is not one I took lightly.

“But there is something special in the MasterChef Australia kitchen, and it feels right to come back to work with the amazing production team, and to play my role in seeing the contestants do as I have done. 2024 will be the start of a new chapter, and it will be surreal - yet brilliant - to share this moment with my fellow judges, Poh, Sofia and Jean-Christophe.”

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