The mystery deepens: MasterChef contestants weren’t told why Ben Ungermann left the show after he was arrested over a ‘personal’ matter
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MasterChef Australia star Ben Ungermann left the show halfway through filming after he was arrested over a personal matter.
And while specific details about his arrest are yet to be revealed, it’s understood the contestants are just as clueless as the viewers at home.
Producers at Endemol Shine told the competitors that Ben, 34, had left ‘for personal reasons’ but provided no further information, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The mystery deepens: MasterChef contestants reportedly weren’t told why Ben Ungermann (pictured) left the show after he was arrested over a ‘personal’ matter
Channel 10 and Endemol Shine also refused to confirm whether Ben had voluntarily left or was told to leave.
News of Ben’s arrest surfaced last month, prompting a spokesperson for Endemol Shine to issue a brief statement to the media.
‘We can confirm Ben Ungermann has left the MasterChef Australia competition. As this is a police matter, we will not be making further comment,’ they said.
Kept in the dark: Producers at Endemol Shine told the competitors that Ben, 34, had left ‘for personal reasons’ but provided no further information. Pictured (left to right): Poh Ling Yeow, Courtney Roulston and Hayden Quinn
The spokesperson added that the arrest was of ‘a personal nature’.
New Idea has since claimed that executives called the show’s editors into an ’emergency meeting’ last month and told them to ‘cut [Ben] out the best you can’.
The incident apparently came as a shock to network bosses, with a source saying: ‘No one could have imagined something like that would ever happen.’
Mystery exit: Channel 10 and production company Endemol Shine also refused to confirm whether Ben had voluntarily left or was told to leave
Making headlines: News of Ben’s arrest surfaced last month, prompting a spokesperson for Endemol Shine to issue a brief statement to the media
Last week, an Instagram follower asked Ben why he wasn’t being featured on the show despite being a fan favourite.
‘I’m actually devastated. How do they edit you out?’ they wrote, to which Ben replied: ‘That’s up to MasterChef Australia. Appreciate the support.’
Ben was a runner-up on the 2017 season and went on to appear as a guest on MasterChef Holland and MasterChef Indonesia.
He also runs the Ungermann Brothers Ice Cream Parlour with his brother, Danny.
Official statement: ‘We can confirm Ben Ungermann has left the MasterChef Australia competition. As this is a police matter, we will not be making further comment,’ they said