SA food icon Maggie Beer returns to MasterChef Australia for the first time in two years

The South Australian food icon is “feeling fantastic” as she makes a comeback to television, and reveals how she’d handle being a MasterChef contestant.

SA food icon Maggie Beer is set to appear on MasterChef Australia 2025. Picture: Channel 10

MasterChef matriarch Maggie Beer finally feels like herself again, almost 12 months on from a serious fall which left her in hospital for several weeks.

“I’m feeling fantastic. I had such amazing care and I’m very lucky to live here in SA. It’s taken some time but I am myself again,” she said ahead of her appearance on Ten’s reality cooking show this weekend.

South Australia’s first lady of food, who turned 80 in January, suffered several fractures and underwent three operations following the scary incident at her Barossa Valley home in August last year.

But now fully recovered, Beer said she “doesn’t feel her age” and is ready to tackle the next decade of her remarkable life.

Beer who turned 80 in January, suffered several fractures and underwent three operations following a fall at her Barossa Valley home in August last year. Picture: Channel 10

“I’m so full of life and I have so much more to do … that I need to get to 90 as well,” she said.

“I don’t feel my age is a limiting factor. I have the energy, the drive and the focus to do the things that are really important to me – that hasn’t diminished one bit.”

The beloved cook, restaurateur, author, businesswoman and television personality will return to the MasterChef kitchen for the first time in two years on Sunday night.

A regular visitor since the show’s debut season – she’s appeared over ten times as a guest judge or mentor – Beer said it was “lovely” to see so many familiar faces.

This includes new judge, Adelaide’s Poh Ling Yeow, and SA favourites Laura Sharrad, Callum Hann and Andre Ursini, who are in the running to secure the MasterChef crown.

“There’s a familiarity and comfort to coming back on the program, it’s always lovely to see those three doing so well,” said Beer.

MasterChef contestants Laura Sharrad. Pics: Instagram.

MasterChef contestants Callum Hann. Pics: Instagram.

“The competition is so hot this year, when you think of the calibre of contestants … it’s not plain sailing for anyone.”

Beer stopped short of anointing a favourite to take out the title but said she has a “soft spot” for the Adelaide trio.

“Anyone could win, I wouldn’t dare pick one this far out from the end,” she said.

A guest judge for the show’s ‘Increasing Ingredients, Decreasing Time’ challenge, a humble Beer admitted she’d be a “terrible” MasterChef contestant.

“I did a challenge against a contestant back on the second season. It was the type of dish I could do with a hand tied behind my back but you get the clock going down on you and my hands shook,” she said. “It’s the time pressure that gets to you.”

Originally published as SA food icon Maggie Beer returns to MasterChef Australia for the first time in two years