MasterChef fans notice Ben Ungermann’s absence from the show’s finale after he was charged with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl
Most of the former contestants returned to the MasterChef kitchen on Monday night to watch Laura Sharrad and Emelia Jackson compete in the grand finale.
But eagle-eyed viewers were quick to notice former star Ben Ungermann’s absence from the show.
The chef, 34, was nowhere to be seen during the episode as all 24 other contestants returned to support the two finalists, except Brendan Pang who couldn’t travel from Perth to Melbourne because of state border closures.
Absent: MasterChef fans noticed Ben Ungermann’s (pictured) absence from the show’s finale on Monday night after he was charged with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl
‘Everyone is back. Except for Ben,’one person tweeted. ‘Anyone had eyes on Ben yet? #MasterChefAU,’ another asked.
‘Just curious…Is Ben Ungermann there?’ another person wrote. ‘Anyone know where Ben Ungermann is?’ one questioned.
‘Where’s Ben?’ #MasterChefAU,’ another person tweeted.
‘Where’s Ben?’ Eagle-eyed viewers were quick to notice and point out Ungermann’s absence from the show
Ungermann was charged on March 6 with two counts of sexual assault, following an alleged incident in Melbourne’s Docklands on February 23 involving a 16-year-old girl.
At the time, he was filming the latest series of MasterChef – but was removed from the competition once producers learned of his arrest.
On March 20, it was first reported that Ungermann had been arrested.
At the time, a spokesperson for Endemol Shine described his arrest as being ‘of a personal nature’ but didn’t provide further details.
Case: Ungermann was charged on March 6 with two counts of sexual assault, following an alleged incident in Melbourne’s Docklands on February 23 involving a 16-year-old girl
He was expected to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 25 but he is believed to have been holed-up in Queensland and was not present at the web hearing.
His lawyer Sarah Condon told the Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link that Ungermann intended to fight the charges.
Court documents state police allege Ungermann intentionally touched his alleged child victim without her consent – and he knew it – at least three times.
Competition: At the time, he was filming the latest series of MasterChef – but was removed from the competition once producers learned of his arrest