MasterChef Australia’s long-running hosts Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris, left the show last year after a decade of fronting the popular program.
And when the twelfth season premiered on Monday night with an all-new panel, they appeared to distance themselves from the popular franchise.
All three media personalities took to social media on the night, ignoring the air-date of the new revamped format, and refusing to acknowledge their replacements.
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How the former MasterChef judges completely ignored the new season and their replacement hosts… as fans claim ‘It’s not the same without them’. Pictured: Ex Masterchef judge George Calombaris on Monday afternoon ahead of the new format’s premiere on Ten
Gary, Matt and George were replaced last year by Andy Allen, Jock Zonfrillo and Melissa Leong.
George was the first of the former judges to take to Instagram on Monday afternoon, with a cooking demonstration video.
Appearing to cheekily reference MasterChef’s themed weeks and challenges, he captioned the clip: ‘It’s vegetable week! Peas please.’
Gary was the next to upload a cooking video for his Instagram fans, as he described the footage: ‘Happiness is the zen like sizzle of lamb gently tuning on the spit.’
Gone! MasterChef Australia’s long-running hosts Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris, left the show last year after a decade of fronting the popular cooking program
‘It doesn’t quite feel the same without the trio’: The absence of the judges was definitely noticed by the show’s devoted fans, who claimed ‘the new judges are a bit boring’
Meanwhile, Matt chose to promote his TV appearance on ABC’s Q&A program.
‘I will be on the panel tonight,’ he wrote under a photo posing with host Hamish Macdonald in a cardboard cut-out of Bananas in Pyjamas.
The absence of the judges was definitely noticed by the show’s devoted fans, who claimed ‘the new judges are a bit boring’ and ‘it doesn’t quite feel the same without the trio’ on Twitter.
‘Can Gordon actually just host the whole thing?’ Fans joked that international guest judge Gordon Ramsay helped spice up the new panel during its premiere episode. Pictured: MasterChef Australia’s new judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong, and Jock Zonfrillo with Gordon
‘While entertaining, was missing the original concept of the show’: Some viewers were so unhappy with the 2020 format they claimed they ‘won’t be watching’ the season ahead
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay returned to MasterChef Australia during the opening episode of the 2020 all-star season as a guest judge.
Many fans joked that Gordon should join the cast permanently to spice things up, with one viewering Tweeting: ‘Hey #masterchefau can Gordon actually just host the whole thing. Like keep the judges, but have him host.’
‘While entertaining, was missing the original concept of the show, and that is the rawness and aspiration of unknowns with cooking in their veins. Instead, we have a mostly successful group, basically a ‘best of old MasterChef’ showing off,’ another viewer said while watching the premiere.
Celebrity chef Curtis Stone and American pop star Katy Perry will also appear in later episodes, as they were filmed before coronavirus lockdowns and social distancing measures were brought into affect.
Star appeal: One drawcard for the program amid COVID-19, however, is having filmed segments in advance with Gordon Ramsay, Curtis Stone and American singer Katy Perry
‘The show needed a refresh’: However, there were new and retuning viewers who enjoyed the new judges and the show’s revamped format
However, there were new and retuning viewers who enjoyed the new judges and the show’s revamped format.
Fans sung praises for the new team on Twitter, calling them a ‘breath of fresh air’.
One fan said: ‘Love love love the new judges! Such a breath of fresh air, and finally a female judge!’
Others added that the ‘new judges are a good move, the show needed a refresh’, and ‘I’m thoroughly enjoying the new judges… they fell into their roles so effortlessly — the perfect fit’.
MasterChef Australia: Back To Win continues Tuesday from 7:30pm on Channel 10
Tune in! MasterChef Australia: Back To Win continues Tuesday from 7:30pm on Channel 10