MasterChef's Rhiannon reacts to 'bizarre' missing detail this season

While this year’s season of MasterChef Australia was filled with plenty of surprising and unpredictable moments, viewers were left disappointed when they discovered that two of the show’s most popular elements had been cut.

In addition to having no theme song or opening title to introduce the 18 contestants - the fewest amount the series has ever had - season 15 also didn’t feature any MasterClasses.

Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle about the glaring omissions, runner-up Rhiannon Anderson admits she found it “quite bizarre” Channel 10 had decided to scrap two elements that have been part of the show since the very beginning.

“I would have loved a MasterClass, like with Jock [Zonfrillo] and Andy [Allen] for sure,” she shares.

“I guess because it was a quicker season it was just one of those things that was like, we've just got to get through it.”

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Although they didn’t receive any advice from culinary professionals in the MasterClasses, Rhiannon says she and her co-stars received “a lot of mentoring” from the judges during the challenges.

“It would have been good but you know what, you get the mentoring throughout the season as it is,” she explains.

“Jock definitely spent a lot of time just letting you know what you need to do to get those flavours. He was really really special the whole way through, I absolutely loved him from day one.”

'Completely changed how I feel'

As well as walking away from the cooking competition $40,000 richer after finishing in second place, Rhiannon shares the experience had a profound impact on her sense of self.

“I just found a strength in myself that I did not even know that I had and I thought, you know what, I've conquered this, I can do anything with my life now,” she says.

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“It actually completely changed how I feel and just being able to go and give everything a crack and get yourself out of your comfort zone. I think it’s the judges too, they give you that confidence to push you to go as hard as you can.

“Entering that kitchen and the whole experience for me was incredible. I feel so blessed and I just look back and go wow, what a journey. The crew, the cast, everyone was so amazing and I had a really, really good experience. I feel very lucky.”

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