Julie Goodwin returns to MasterChef in nervous first cook

Julie Goodwin is back in the MasterChef kitchen after 13 years, but viewers watching along at home were puzzled by one aspect of her return.

The long-awaited return of MasterChef has delivered everything we’ve come to know and love from the series, from wacky dishes, to tear-jerking moments and spirited pep talks.

Featuring 12 MasterChef superfans and 12 past legends this season, Monday night’s premiere notably saw the return of OG victor Julie Goodwin — whose name was etched into the trophy way back in 2009.

The pressure of measuring up against a new crop of contestants was not lost on Goodwin, who was a nervous wreck for much of the episode, slicing her finger as her hands shook uncontrollably during the cook for a coveted week one Immunity Pin.

Julie joins a host of familiar faces on MasterChef season 14.

Fans on social media were surprised to see the “legend” in such a frazzled state, tweeting their appreciation for Julie during the episode.

Bless, why does Julie look so nervous?!!?! She’s a legend, she’s got nothing left to prove #MasterChefAU

— Fiza Zali (@fizawanders) April 18, 2022

Oh Julie. She looks so stressed 😥#MasterChefAU

— Louise (@rednibl) April 18, 2022

Poor Julie, she doesn't believe in her abilities, I just want to give her a hug 😭 #MasterChefAU

— JEMMY (@jaamie0504) April 18, 2022

Aww Julie's so nervous. Someone give her a damn hug 😭 #MasterChefAU

— ... (@DaydreamerAus) April 18, 2022

I thought it would feel nice but I didn’t anticipate it would feel this special. Welcome back into our homes Julie #MasterchefAU

— Franko (@_thebruz) April 18, 2022

This is now a Julie Goodwin Stan account #MasterChefAU

— khanh (@khanhong) April 18, 2022

Admitting she felt “intimidated” by the new generation of home cooks, mum-of-three Julie stuck with family style cooking for the first challenge, creating a Lebanese feast for Melissa Leong, Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo.

Reflecting on her first MasterChef journey over a decade ago, Goodwin — wearing a string of beads around her wrist not dissimilar to Zonfrillo’s famed set — was doubtful her style of cooking would be a worthy match for the up and comers.

“One of our first skills challenges was chopping onions … You think about the things that they’re doing now, it’s just insane,” she told producers.

“The standard of cooking has gone through the roof.”

Presenting her dish to the judges with a noticeably anxious demeanour, Julie admitted of the first cook: “I loved it and I felt that fantastic adrenaline rush, but also those nerves man, they just came back like no time had passed at all.”

On tasting her dish, Jock quelled her fears with a calm word of encouragement.

Jock Zonfrillo, resident cheerleader.

Julie earlier admitted she was “bricking it” to be back.

“I feel that you think that because you are the OG and you were the winner from such a long time ago, that you feel as if you’re not at the standard of the years that have come after you,” he mused.

“You’re not an OG, you’re a winner. But what you are, most importantly, is a classic, and classics never get old. Classics are very hard to beat,” he said.

“Julie, you have every bit as much chance of your name on that trophy again, and with food that tastes that good, and looks that good, I’m banking on it.”

All three judges praised the dish, but it was returning contestants Christina and Tommy, with their Portuguese and Vietnamese dishes respectively, who took out immunity pins for the episode.

As for the fans, vegetarian cook Hari’s burnt cabbage was the pick of the bunch.

MasterChef continues Tuesday night from 7.30pm on Channel 10.