Former MasterChef runner-up and returning contestant Ben Ungermann arrested
A returning MasterChef contestant has been dropped from the latest all-stars season after being arrested over what has been described as an issue “of a personal nature”.
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A MasterChef contestant has been quietly dumped from the Channel 10 reality cooking show after being arrested over what has been described as an issue “of a personal nature”.
MasterChef’s 2017 runner-up Ben Ungermann has vanished from the new Back to Win themed season of MasterChef Australia.
The father of three has not been on set at the MasterChef headquarters at Melbourne’s Showgrounds.
No other MasterChef contestants, Channel 10 staff or crew from production company Endemol Shine Australia are said to be involved.
An Endemol Shine spokesman told Page 13 the issue was “of a personal nature” and did not relate to MasterChef in any way.
“We can confirm Ben Ungermann has left the MasterChef Australia competition,” he said.
“As this is a police matter, we will not be making further comment.”
The newly formatted show has been filming since January with new judges Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen following the departures of much loved trio Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris.
This year the contestants are not living together, Big Brother-style, in a MasterChef house. They have been put up in hotels around Melbourne.
Ungermann has been a fan favourite since almost taking the crown in season nine of the popular cooking series.
In the two-or-so years since his season finished, Ungermann has made guest appearances on MasterChef Holland and MasterChef Indonesia.
The show’s global popularity helped Ungermann to expand his Queensland ice-cream business to India and the Netherlands.
Several of the show’s 24 contestants are said to be bewildered as to why Ungermann left.
Filming is still continuing at the Showgrounds, with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay making a guest appearance.
MasterChef: Back to Win will air on Channel 10 next month.
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