MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow ‘set to quit the show’ in ‘judges shake-up’

One of the most popular judges on Channel 10’s MasterChef Australia is reportedly planning to walk away from the show.

MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow is reportedly set to be replaced on the beloved Channel 10 show.

An insider has claimed that the fan-favourite judge could be set to walk away from the show at the end of the season that’s currently airing.

It’s believed that Channel 10 executives are hoping to get original contestant Julie Goodwin to step into Yeow’s role.

“Julie would be a fantastic judge. Fans love her,” a source told New Idea.

Returning MasterChef season 17 judges Jean-Christophe Novelli, Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow, and Andy Allen,, Source: Network 10

“While no one wants to see Poh leave, everyone would welcome Julie back with open arms.”

Goodwin originally beat Yeow to the title during the very first season of the competition all the way back in 2009.

She later made a return to the show in 2022 before appearing as a guest judge in 2023. It’s believed she loved being able to step into the role of a judge for the first time and would be keen to return full-time.

The rumours come after Yeow shared in the last that she didn’t always feel as though judging others came naturally to her, admitting that she sometimes thinks about being a contestant again.

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I love the chaos (of being a contestant) and there’s nothing quite as exhilarating as just having days on end where you do not know what’s going to happen,” she said about her time as a MasterChef competitor in 2009 and 2020.

“Even when I’m standing … at the top of the room (as a judge), I sometimes fantasise about being a contestant again,” Yeow added.

Returning MasterChef season 17 judges Jean-Christophe Novelli, Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow, and Andy Allen,, Source: Network 10

“I constantly run through the challenges that I have just delivered and think about what I would do in that situation. That’s how much I miss and love it.”

Poh joined the judging panel last year alongside newcomers Jean-Christophe Novelli and Sofia Levin, as well as existing judge Andy Allen.

Speaking to news.com.au, Poh previously admitted that she’s still struggling to get her head around the judging role.

“I’m still feeling so in the deep end, to be honest,” she said. “It is so difficult. I knew it was going to be hard, but I didn’t quite realise just how hard it was gonna be.”

“It is a little bit related to me feeling self-conscious, and I don’t really like to use the words ‘impostor syndrome,’ it’s more that … I feel like I don’t know that much,” she said.

Originally published as MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow ‘set to quit the show’ in ‘judges shake-up’