What’s next for Masterchef now George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston are gone

Bosses at Ten were already considering a Masterchef shake-up after months of negotiations with judging trio Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris stalled. And the new re-jig could see your favourites make a triumphant return.

Masterchef Australia is said to be considering an all-star format in 2020 with fan favourites from past series having another shot at glory.

The potential re-jig follows Network Ten’s decision to cut ties with the show’s judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan after pay talks broke down.

Ten sources said Preston, Mehigan and Calombaris, who have helmed the popular cooking show for 11 seasons, wanted a 40 per cent boost on their reported $1 million-plus salaries.

However, TV insiders said as pay negotiations stretched out, Ten was already rethinking future formats for the popular cooking show.

Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris failed to strike a deal with Ten.

These included an all-star series with past contestants returning to the spotlight for another cook-off, and shot at the Masterchef title.

Asked about the all-star format for 2020, Ten’s chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said: “It’s probably too early to talk about. Masterchef is going into year 12, and we strongly feel it has a lot of growth left.

“We will relaunch the Masterchef brand, move it forward, and make it last another decade.

“In a way, the judges have been amazing on the show, but it’s a good time for us to move forward as well.”

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Speculation is rife on who could replace the trio with several high-profile celebrity chefs in the mix.

Speculation is rife about who will helm the show in 2020, with names including LA-based Australian chef Curtis Stone, and popular past contestants Poh Ling Yeow and Adam Liaw.

“The Masterchef format is so strong, and the Australian version is widely reputed to be among, if not, the best version,” Ms McGarvey said.

“So we have lot of people very interested in taking part in the show. That’s how we landed where we did.”

Ten’s shock decision to cut ties with Preston, Calombaris and Mehigan came late yesterday.

But Mehigan said “it was never about the money” and indicated the trio would continue to work together on a new project.

“Working together will continue to be the most important thing for us … the three musketeers,” Mehigan said.

Poh Ling Yeow.

Adam Liaw.

Aussie chef based in LA, Curtis Stone has been named as a potential replacement.

Those familiar with the pay talks said Preston, Mehigan and ­Calombaris tried to strengthen their bargaining power with an “all for one and one for all” approach.

It also followed a week of bad headlines for Calombaris after revelations he had underpaid staff at his Melbourne restaurant empire by more than $7.8 million.

He has since repaid the workers, and was fined $200,000.

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

“Across 11 sensational seasons, MasterChef Australia has established itself as one of the most popular and respected cooking television series around the world. We would like to thank Gary, George and Matt for their contribution over the past 11 years.”

Gary Mehigan says the trios contract talks were “never about the money”.

Preston said last night the decision was made “with a heavy heart”.

Calombaris said it was “time to take a deep breath” and thanked his “brothers”.

Ms McGarvey said Calombaris’s wages saga did not ­influence Ten’s decision to cut ties with the celebrity chef.

“Truthfully, it’s a timing thing. These negotiations have been going for months,” she said.

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The split from MasterChef Australia follows reports the trio are keen to explore other markets, particularly India.

“It’s our biggest market in terms of viewership,” Calombaris told the Herald Sun last week. “India is very kind to us, and they do want us to do television over there, but to get the three of us together, and be able to do that, is very difficult, but you never know for the future.”