She is one Australia’s most popular TV personalities, but Melissa Leong is the first to admit that fame has not always sat comfortably with her.

Amid the intense media coverage and interest from the public following the death of her fellow MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo earlier this year, Melissa chose to remain private with her feelings despite constant speculation about when she would publicly comment.

Speaking today about Jock’s passing for what she says will be “the first and last time”, Melissa explains why she has decided to navigate her grief this past six months in a way that allows her “to honour what makes sense to me”; defends her right to keep some things private and responds to questions about what she thinks the future of MasterChef Australia will be.

She also provides a glimpse into the new TV gig that will take her out of her culinary comfort zone; fires up about representation of people of colour in Australia ahead of the Voice to Parliament referendum – and reflects on why she will end 2023 a very different woman than when the year began.

For more Melissa Leong, follow her on Instagram at @fooderati or catch her on Dessert Masters, airing this November on 10 and 10 Play.