Gossip Queen: Jamie Oliver wants in on MasterChef, ex-judge says

Popular English chef Jamie Oliver has put his hand up for the new-look MasterChef, according to an ex-judge. He’s not the only big name in the mix, as more details emerge about the departure of the show’s long-time trio of judges.

Jamie Oliver has thrown his name into the mix for the new-look MasterChef.

The star UK chef has voiced his interest in the gig directly to ex-MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan.

“I went back to the UK … and while I was there Jamie Oliver said, ‘I will put my hand up for MasterChef, give us a ring’, kind of thing,” Mehigan said.

Curtis Stone’s name keeps coming up in MasterChef rumours. Picture: David Geraghty, The Australian.

Nigella Lawson is another Brit rumoured to be involved in MasterChef season 12.

Oliver also made an obvious pitch during an interview with Studio 10 last month.

“I’d love to do MasterChef. If there is a reservation up for MasterChef, I’m well up for it. I love the Aussie MasterChef. I think it’s the best one in the world,” Oliver said.

Nigella Lawson and Curtis Stone are two of the other major names bubbling up in MasterChef rumours.

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An interview on Triple M’s Kennedy Molloy shed further light on what led to Channel 10 parting ways with Mehigan and MasterChef co-stars George Calombaris and Matt Preston.

“So we say we would love to do season 12 of MasterChef but we want to finish in June and we all want to go off and do other stuff,” Mehigan said.

That ultimately did not work for Ten. While the three remain under contract until the end of the year, Mehigan indicated there was plenty in the works for 2020.

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