Real reason Melissa Leong isn’t returning to MasterChef: ‘It was really important for me to have shifted gears’

Tongues started wagging with her MasterChef exit, but Melissa Leong can now reveal her next big career move, adding a new TV project to her resume. Here is all you need to know.

Melissa Leong has revealed the real reason she exited MasterChef Australia, unveiling a surprise new TV project that will show the country “who else I can be”.

Channel 10 last week announced Leong would not be part of the judging line-up on MasterChef in 2024, but will continue in the Ten family as co-host of new series, Dessert Masters.

Now she can finally talk about her next move.

Next year, the much-loved television personality will join actor Samuel Johnson and Gold Logie-nominated presenter Costa Georgiadis in fronting SBS documentary series The Hospital: In The Deep End.

“I think there was a big question mark last week as to the why, and so this week is where the other shoe drops,” Leong told The Daily Telegraph.

Melissa Leong pictured at Sydney Town Hall. Picture: Richard Dobson

“This is where I can talk about why it was really important for me to have shifted gears with MasterChef and left myself room in my life to be able to expand and evolve into the other parts of who I am, and the other parts of who I can be in terms of my career.”

Not being able to announce the documentary last week led to speculation over disharmony behind the scenes on MasterChef, which Leong has now put to rest.

The Hospital will see the trio spend time with medical professionals at Sydney’s St Vincent’s as they explore the challenges facing the public health system.

“This show for SBS is incredibly important because I am able to extend who I am and give myself the opportunity to show Australia who else I can be and the other facets of what lights me up, of what is really important to me and to be able to convey those stories of other people through that interest,” she explained.

“It is serious but it is also all of the things that I love.

“It is full of heart, it is full of stories, it is full of incredible people who literally save lives daily, that is their life and that is not lost on me.

Melissa Leong announces new TV project, The Hospital: In The Deep End, alongside Costa Georgiadis and Samuel Johnson.

“I am lucky that I get to work in the entertainment space and it is beautiful, but what has become so important to me and what has been really highlighted through my journey with MasterChef is the thing that really lights me up if I truly think about it is getting to the heart of the stories, getting to the heart of who people are, what makes people emotional, what makes people psyched for life.

“To be able to grow that part of my storytelling and my skills in my career, that is a tremendous opportunity..

“This is such a joyous moment for me in my career and I am so excited to finally be able to tell people about it.”

Leong was a respected food critic and journalist before being elevated to household name status on MasterChef alongside Andy Allen and the late Jock Zonfrillo.

Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon are the hosts of MasterChef: Dessert Masters.

“It is the best of many worlds,” she said of being able to work on the documentary and remain part of the MasterChef family.

Leong’s move was part of a long list of announcements at the SBS programming launch at Sydney’s Town Hall.

Also announced was the return of Alone Australia in 2024, with the reality show to be shot in New Zealand.

Cliff Curtis will join Keiynan Lonsdale and Tanzyn Crawford in new crime drama Swift Street while international productions The Handmaid’s Tale and Rogue Heroes return to SBS.

The broadcaster will premiere a new season of Emmy Award-winning food travel series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy and NITV will premiere animated children’s series Eddie’s Lil’ Homies, inspired by former AFL star Eddie Betts popular book series, in partnership with Netflix.