MasterChef Australia 2024: Who are the new judges?

2024 is poised to serve up a new chapter of flavours and excitement as MasterChef Australia unveils its brand new panel of judges for Season 16.

Like a perfectly balanced dish, the show's upcoming season promises a blend of homegrown talent and international culinary stars.

Andy Allen, a former winner turned judge, continues his journey, while new additions to the MasterChef family include the beloved Poh Ling Yeow, food critic Sofia Levin, and Michelin Star maestro Jean-Christophe Novelli. Their diverse backgrounds and expertise are set to spice up the competition and ignite the passion of contestants.

Meet the fresh additions to the MasterChef judging team.

Poh Ling Yeow

As the much-loved runner-up of MasterChef Australia's debut season, Poh Ling Yeow already holds a special place in the hearts of fans and the MasterChef family. This Malaysian-born Australian is a culinary multi-talent, with roles spanning from cook to artist, actress, author, and television presenter.

Since appearing on season 1 of MasterChef Australia, Poh has gone on to host acclaimed cooking shows like ABC's Poh's Kitchen and SBS's Poh & Co, where she's shared her passion for food and culture. Poh has also penned multiple cookbooks, including What I Cook When Nobody's Watching and Poh Bakes 100 Greats.

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While she narrowly missed out on the title of MasterChef in season one, her return as a guest judge and mentor, as well as her reappearance as a contestant in the twelfth season in 2020, exemplify her long-standing connection to the show, making Poh's recent involvement a full-circle moment for her.

"MasterChef Australia is where my food story began, so this feels like coming home," she said. "A big part of me will always be standing on the other side with the contestants and I hope when they look to me, they see proof you don’t have to win to win.”

Sofia Levin

Sofia Levin, a stalwart of the food reviewing scene for over a decade, is an influential figure in the culinary world.

As a travel journalist and presenter, she has made it her mission to celebrate diversity through food. Hailing from multicultural Melbourne, she understands the significance of identity and the beauty of diversity, which drives her to explore culture and community through the lens of food. Sofia's #EatCuriously movement, fuelled by her insatiable curiosity, encourages people to step outside their culinary comfort zones, promoting a better understanding of each other and themselves.

In 2020, Sofia launched Seasoned Traveller, a platform dedicated to sharing lesser-known food stories from around the world. Her natural on-screen charisma has led her to star in video campaigns, guest-host travel and cooking shows, and even judge national food competitions. Sofia's passion for celebrating culture through food is not just a vocation but a way to carve out a more delicious and open-minded world for all.

Sofia said she is "giddy with excitement" about becoming a judge on MasterChef.

“The first season of MasterChef Australia aired the same year I started writing about food. By the time I graduated from journalism, I was sharing lesser-known food stories, while the show was exposing the nation to cuisines and cultures they had never considered before. Becoming a judge on MasterChef feels like two parallel paths converging.”

Jean-Christophe Novelli

MasterChef Australia will also welcome illustrious French chef, author, and restaurateur, Jean-Christophe Novelli, to the judging panel, adding a touch of international star power to the show.

With an impressive background, including multiple Michelin Stars and 5/5 AA Rosettes, Novelli is renowned for his expertise in the kitchen. Having started his culinary journey at the age of 14, working in a bakery, and later becoming the head chef to Elie de Rothschild at just 19, he brings a wealth of experience to the competition.

After arriving in the UK in 1983 and learning from the legendary Keith Floyd, Jean-Christophe made his mark in the industry, receiving accolades such as AA Chefs Chef of the Year and representing the UK in prestigious culinary competitions. He also has notable appearances on various TV programs and even his own show, Chef Academy US.

Jean-Christophe said fostering culinary talent is something he has cared about for many years; "it is a passion I am excited to share in the MasterChef Kitchen. Australian cuisine has a remarkable reputation on the world stage, and it will be a great privilege to meet and mentor the country’s top home cooks on their journeys to greatness.”

MasterChef Australia will continue to be a magnet for the world’s biggest culinary icons in 2024, welcoming an array of guest chefs from across the globe.

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