Former Masterchef judge George Calombaris opens up about his TV future
Former Masterchef judge George Calombaris has opened up about his TV future, claiming his career certainly won’t include forays into the jungle or on a shiny dancefloor.
Former Masterchef Australia judge George Calombaris says his future in television will not include forays into the jungle wilds or shiny dancefloor.
“I can promise you, you’ll never see me on Dancing With The Stars or I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here,” Calombaris told Confidential.
“I don’t cope without the comforts of my pillow at home.
“I’ll give Zorba The Greek a go, if you get a few wines into me,” he said, laughing.
“But as for other shows, it’s got to be food-related for me. It’s what I know, it’s what I love and it’s what I really believe in.”
Earlier this week, Network Ten cut ties with the Calombaris and fellow judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan after pay talks broke down.
Calombaris discussed his TV options with Confidential while promoting his Gazi restaurant last week.
Ten sources said Preston, Mehigan and Calombaris, who have helmed the popular cooking show for 11 seasons, wanted a 40 per cent boost on their reported $1 million-plus salaries.
It also comes amid reports Ten is considering an all-star format in 2020 with fan favourites from past series having another shot at glory.
Asked about the all-star format for 2020, Ten’s chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said: “It’s probably too early to talk about. Masterchef is going into year 12, and we strongly feel it has a lot of growth left.
“We will relaunch the Masterchef brand, move it forward, and make it last another decade.
“In a way, the judges have been amazing on the show, but it’s a good time for us to move forward as well.”
Speculation is rife about who will helm the show in 2020, with names including LA-based Australian chef Curtis Stone, and popular past contestants Poh Ling Yeow and Adam Liaw.
“The Masterchef format is so strong, and the Australian version is widely reputed to be among, if not, the best version,” Ms McGarvey said.
“So we have lot of people very interested in taking part in the show. That’s how we landed where we did.”
Ten’s shock decision to cut ties with Preston, Calombaris and Mehigan came earlier this week.
But Mehigan said “it was never about the money” and indicated the trio would continue to work together on a new project.
“Working together will continue to be the most important thing for us … the three musketeers,” Mehigan said.
Those familiar with the pay talks said Preston, Mehigan and Calombaris tried to strengthen their bargaining power with an “all for one and one for all” approach.
It also followed a week of bad headlines for Calombaris after revelations he had underpaid staff at his Melbourne restaurant empire by more than $7.8 million.
He has since repaid the workers, and was fined $200,000.
Network 10 chief executive officer Paul Anderson said: “Despite months of negotiation, Ten has not been able to reach a commercial agreement that was satisfactory to Matt, Gary and George.”
Calombaris said it was “time to take a deep breath” and thanked his “brothers”.
Ms McGarvey said Calombaris’s wages saga did not influence Ten’s decision to cut ties with the celebrity chef.
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“Truthfully, it’s a timing thing. These negotiations have been going for months,” she said.
The split from MasterChef Australia follows reports the trio are keen to explore other markets, particularly India.
“It’s our biggest market in terms of viewership,” Calombaris told the Herald Sun last week. “India is very kind to us, and they do want us to do television over there, but to get the three of us together, and be able to do that, is very difficult, but you never know for the future.”
Calombaris is set to open Elektra, a new wine and snacks bar, in Flinder St next week.
Originally published as Former Masterchef judge George Calombaris opens up about his TV future