MasterChef judges, fans left reeling after Julie Goodwin elimination

The favourite to take out this year’s MasterChef was sent home in a shock elimination last night, as the judges struggled to hold back tears.

Debut MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin was sent home from the cooking show in a shock elimination on Tuesday night.

The 51-year-old fan favourite, who has barely stepped a foot wrong since returning to the kitchen this season more than a decade after being crowned champion in 2009, left the judges astounded after she overcooked her dish in a service challenge.

The top five contestants were tasked with serving individual courses on last night’s elimination cook-off in Tasmania, with Goodwin assigned to the dessert course.

MasterChef top five Julie Goodwin, Daniel Lamble, Billie Mckay, Sarah Todd and Keyma Vasquez Montero.

And while the veteran appeared to be the most in-control of the top five, she pulled her sticky date pudding out of the oven minutes prior to service to realise the bottom of the cake was badly burnt.

When delivering the news, judge Jock Zonfrillo said Goodwin’s dessert looked like “a million bucks”, before adding: “But the bottom of all of our cakes were burnt. Which left a bitter, burnt flavour in our mouths. Which is why, I’m sorry, Julie, for the first time ever you’re going home.”

Jock delivered the sad news.

Melissa Leong looked visibly upset.

Fans took to social media to express their devastation Goodwin missed out on repeating history, with many believing she was a shoo-in to win again.

I’ve watched every single series of #MasterChefAU and this is the first time I’ve been teary at an elimination. We’ll miss you @_JulieGoodwin xxx

— Elizabeth (@OzRetroRecipes) July 5, 2022

Julie Goodwin, you are such a joyful, kind, wonderful human let alone phenomenal cook, thank you.#MasterChefAU

— Ness Mac (@NessMac1) July 5, 2022

Julie Goodwin is the greatest gift to this world and a national treasure #MasterchefAU

— Penny 🌸 (@gooddog_png) July 5, 2022

What a delight it’s been to have you back on the telly Julie Goodwin. You did so well and you’ve been an absolute pleasure to watch. You’ve shared so much of yourself and I truly hope you know how valued you are. We love you girl ❤️

#MasterChefAU

— Shan (@ShanStar) July 5, 2022

‘I can finally be at peace that the first time round wasn’t a mistake. I made it to top 5 so it can’t have been a mistake’

have always been Team Poh but tonight cutting onions with Julie Goodwin 😭😭😭 #MasterChefAU

— Anna Chang (@annachang) July 5, 2022

After her elimination, a teary Goodwin said she was “really proud” of her efforts.

“It was a big decision to come back. I’ll never regret saying yes to that,” she began,

“We talk about the MasterChef family and I was there in the first generation of this family. It feels kind of appropriate to be handing over to a new generation.

Julie Goodwin was eliminated on last night's MasterChef.

She added: “I’m not disappointed by that whatsoever. It feels right. And I think just for myself, I can finally be at peace with the idea that the first time around wasn’t a mistake. I made it to the top five this time so it can’t have been a mistake.

“It has shaped my whole life. It has shaped everything that I do. It has shaped all of my family’s experiences growing, up and I couldn’t be more grateful to MasterChef. It’s a huge part of my life.”

Goodwin’s exit prior to finals week leaves Billie McKay, Sarah Todd, Keyma Vasquez Montero and Daniel Lamble to battle it out for the title of 2022 MasterChef winner.

Originally published as MasterChef judges, fans left reeling after Julie Goodwin elimination