MasterChef WILL return for a thirteenth season next year – as judge Melissa Leong says there will be one major change
Melissa Leong is already looking forward to next year’s round of MasterChef, after Channel 10 confirmed the cooking would be getting a thirteenth season.
The judge, 38, hopes to ‘evolve’ the competition by seeking applicants from diverse backgrounds – in particular people with Indigenous heritage.
Melissa told The Daily Telegraph on Friday: ‘I want to evolve that and make sure we continue to celebrate everything that makes Australia a wonderful place to be, which is our ancient heritage.’
Back to win… again! Melissa Leong is already looking forward to next year’s round of MasterChef, after Channel 10 confirmed the cooking would be getting a thirteenth season
She acknowledged that the show had done an incredible job so far with Southeast Asian cuisine, but the next step should be showcasing Aboriginal cooks and dishes.
‘For me, every time you do something, you have to do it better and bring something more,’ she added.
As the twelfth season heads towards its final weeks, Melissa said: ‘You can never tell what’s going to happen next. I know Australia will be blown away.’
More diversity: The judge, 38, hopes to ‘evolve’ the competition by seeking applicants from diverse backgrounds – in particular people with Indigenous heritage. Pictured: MasterChef 2020 contestants
Melissa and fellow judges Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen defied their critics by turning the once-struggling cooking show into a ratings juggernaut once again.
The season 12 premiere reached more than 1.22 million viewers in April, and the series has continued to maintain a top spot in the ratings.
Melissa, a food writer by trade, told The Weekend Australian earlier this month that she was ‘humbled’ by the show’s success.
Ratings success: Melissa and fellow judges Jock Zonfrillo (left) and Andy Allen (centre) defied their critics by turning the once-struggling cooking show into a ratings juggernaut once again
She said: ‘Ratings aren’t really within our control… [but] it’s a wonderful thing to feel that it has resonated with the viewers in Australia and overseas.’
The new judges took over from original hosts Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston, who quit last year over a salary dispute.
MasterChef continues Sunday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
Everyone’s replaceable: The new judges took over from original hosts Gary Mehigan (left), George Calombaris (right) and Matt Preston (centre), who quit last year over a salary dispute