Former MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan says he was looking for new opportunities after 11 years
MasterChef’s original judges shocked fans when they walked away from the popular reality show. But Gary Mehigan has revealed how they begged for change — and what he’s up to next with a few familiar foodie faces.
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Gary Mehigan says he was ready for a fresh food challenge after feeling stale following an 11-year run on MasterChef.
Mehigan and fellow judges Matt Preston and George Calombaris left the Network 10 show in July last year.
Mehigan is now working with Preston and My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel on Channel 7’s upcoming series Plate of Origin.
“Both Matt and I were very nervous going into it but we also had a lot of input into how we thought the show should come across,’’ he said of the competition that pits the world’s best cuisines against each other.
“We want it to be full of fun and joy and it’s back to basics, back to home cooking. A proper celebration of our diversity.
“I think what the shock for everybody was with MasterChef was that it seemed very abrupt but we did that show for a long time.
“We were running into our 12th year and we were really begging them for change.
“We wanted to work a shorter schedule in the year, we wanted them to think more creatively about how they use us as judges.
“We (thought we) can’t do this for another 10 years. We want to do something else. From our perspective, and certainly mine, I felt it was time to look for something new.
“I didn’t really know what that was going to be. The opportunity to develop programming with somebody, which in the end happened to be Seven, that’s the big appeal. And obviously it has to be food and genuine and fun.”
Mehigan said he didn’t watch the new MasterChef series but had given new judge Jock Zonfrillo some advice.
“I got asked recently have I watched any of the new series and I genuinely haven’t,’’ he said.
“I’ve seen little chunks of it. I don’t know Melissa (Leong) but I know Andy (Allen) and Jock really well. Jock rang me well before when I think he started talking to MasterChef.
“I said you know what, it’s been the most incredible experience of my life so far, a fabulous introduction to television.
“I said if you don’t do it you’re an idiot. You’re silly, so go for your life. It’s a new phase for them and I just want to talk about my new job.”
Mehigan has also taken on a new coffee project, partnering with Veneziano Coffee Roasters to launch a decadent new range called Gary Mehigan Specialty Coffee.
“People aren’t going out or are in the social scene, they’re making their own coffee at home,’’ he said.
“We’re all a bit coffee mad, I think the timing is right.
“Being a food nerd, being able to properly be involved from start to finish and sticking my ugly mug on a label has been really good.”
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