New MasterChef 2020 judges draw mixed reaction from viewers

MasterChef relaunched last night with a trio of new judges and a host of former contestants. And Australia absolutely lapped it up.

The new season of MasterChef is a hit!

The long-running cooking show returned to Channel 10 last night and was a ratings winner with a huge 1.23 million viewers (five city metro) tuning in. That’s a better result than the debut episode of MAFS this year and is the highest rating MasterChef launch episode since 2015.

The result will be a huge relief for Channel 10 bosses who were unsure how Australia would react to the three new judges at the helm of the show: Jock Zonfrillo, Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.

The trio landed the gig following the shock departure of veterans George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan last year.

MasterChef Australia’s new judges Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen.

The episode kicked off with a montage of the trio during their many years on the show, before announcing a “new era” for MasterChef as the new line-up was introduced, alongside this week’s guest judge Gordon Ramsay.

Fans were initially sceptical when the network announced the relatively unknown Melissa Leong, Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo would be fronting the series in 2020.

Many fans praised the change, dubbing it “refreshing”.

This judging team - it's refreshing that there is finally some Female energy #MasterchefAU

— Stay at home Jane (@austenite20) April 13, 2020

Strange not seeing George, Gary and Matt - but already like the new judges on #MasterChefAU. And some high calibre cooks too. It’s the little bit of normality we need in this crazy world right now.

— Anthony Clark (@AnthonyClarkAU) April 13, 2020

I don't want to speak too soon but I love the new judges and I love this show #MasterChefAU

— Maya (@tweetmayatweet) April 13, 2020

You can already tell that this is going to be one of the best seasons of #MasterChefAU EVER 😍 I love the vibe the new judges bring 🙏

— Francisco Torres (@franciscosayshi) April 13, 2020

At the risk of sounding shallow, this must be the most attractive panel of judges EVER #MasterChefAU

— ... (@DaydreamerAus) April 13, 2020

I’ve already forgotten about those old judges #masterchefau

— Laura QuaranPiva (@PivaLasVegas) April 13, 2020

Getting real step dad vibes from the judges. Do the old judges come back on weekends? #MasterChefAU

— Nath Valvo (@nathvalvo) April 13, 2020

Gordon Ramsay intro’ing the new judges is a perfect choice. They already feel like home #MasterChefAU

— Franko (@_thebruz) April 13, 2020

But others said they missed the old judges, with some pointing out they provided more entertainment.

Not to be rude, but I really wish the old judges were back at @MasterChef 😢 #MasterChefAU #2020 #masterchef

— Claudia (@mclodette) April 13, 2020

Great that Masterchef is back but I miss the old judges already #MasterChefAU

— Billy (@billyn123) April 13, 2020

I’m scared that having unproblematic judges will make for a less funny twitter. Despite being glad. #MasterChefAU

— Ruby the Masterchef (@MasterchefRuby) April 13, 2020

So who’s gonna yell “boom boom shake the room” now? #masterchefau

— Dean Nye (@Dean_Nye) April 13, 2020

The #MasterChefAU contestants and the rest of Australia when the new judges walk in: pic.twitter.com/tqMeB5jLIN

— deadplant15 (@deadplant15) April 13, 2020

Wow, I actually miss the three stooges that were the previous #MasterChefAU judges. @masterchefau is it too late to re-do the season?

— Kalelarga (@kalelarga3) April 13, 2020

I truly hope these judges can dredge some charisma up from somewhere.. they all seem like someone you would get stuck talking to at a Christmas party #MasterchefAU

— Ally Garrett (@allygarrett) April 13, 2020

Network 10 announced it had pulled the plug on Preston, Mehigan and Calombaris just hours before the season 11 finale aired in July.

In a statement chief executive officer Paul Anderson said, “Despite months of negotiation, 10 has not been able to reach a commercial agreement that was satisfactory to Matt, Gary and George.”

“We would like to thank Gary, George and Matt for their contribution over the past 11 years,” he said.

In an interview on Kyle and Jackie O’s KIIS FM in the aftermath of the bombshell news, entertainment reporter Peter Ford claimed it was money that killed the contract negotiations.

“It was about money. Don’t forget, this is only a four-month-a-year gig. They initially went in wanting $1.5 million each and a guarantee of two years – that’s $9 million in total,” he alleged.

“They can make a lot of money on the side – that glow of being on TV gives them the chance to go and appear at a food festival for the day and pick up $100,000. Even doing an after-dinner speaking gig, they can pick up $30,000-$40,000 for that.”

At the time, Preston confirmed on Instagram the trio were “really keen to continue but we were unable to agree to all terms for the new contract”.

Mehigan wrote on his Instagram that the decision to walk away was “never about the money and never will be about the money”.

“We couldn’t agree on the term of the new contract for 2020 and season 12 … Working together will continue to be the most important thing for us,” he said.

Calombaris, Mehigan and Preston were reportedly on salaries “well over $1 million”, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

All three were believed to have left MasterChef after the network refused to up their salaries “by more than 40 per cent”, according to the newspaper.

Their departure also came amid reports Calombaris underpaid staff working for his Melbourne restaurant empire more than $7.8 million.

The chef and his Made Establishment company was fined a “contrition payment” of $200,000 by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Calombaris apologised for his actions, but that did not stop more than 22,000 people signing a petition calling for him to be sacked from MasterChef.

MasterChef airs on Channel 10 weeknights at 7.30pm

Originally published as New MasterChef 2020 judges draw mixed reaction from viewers