George Calombaris says ‘brutal’ career lows cleared the skeletons in his closet

Embattled TV chef George Calombaris says his recent career lows, with the wages scandal and exiting plum TV gig MasterChef, were “brutal” but he’s not one to give up.

George Calombaris has paid tribute to his “superwoman” wife Natalie and family as he returns to the kitchen following a “brutal” period in his life.

Calombaris said Natalie, the mother of their two children, had been his rock of support through recent tough times when he was fined for underpaying staff and exited MasterChefafter 11 years.

“That girl is an absolute fricken superwoman,’’ Calombaris said.

“You say you love someone and that’s all good and well, but what she’s done the last six months … I’ve kept it together with incredible humans around me. They’ve had to go through all of my pain.

Calombaris says his wife was “superwoman” by his side. Picture: David Smith

“Here we are now, we live to tell the story and as the dust settles we keep getting on with it.”

Calombaris, who this week launched his new book, Just George, isn’t sure what the future holds.

While rumours swirl that his former MasterChef cohorts Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan are being courted by Channel 7, Calombaris said he was focused on working at Hellenic Republic in Brighton.

“I love the two of them dearly and everyone’s got a family to feed. That’s the first time I’ve heard the MKR thing. The boys are incredible TV talent.

“For me it’s just head down, bum up. I can’t do anything (in TV) until mid next year.”

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Calombaris described the past six months, which included the wages scandal and parting ways with Channel 10, as “brutal.”

He said it would have been easy to walk away, but he wanted to be there for his
600 staff.

Calombaris will transform his Hellenic Republic restaurants, with Brighton to be the sole venue.

“All the skeletons in our cupboard are gone. I’m not one to give up.”