MasterChef’s Melissa Leong axed from judging line-up

afr.com:

Melissa Leong, the high-profile co-host of MasterChef Australia, will be pulled from the popular Channel Ten program, but the broadcaster insists she remains an important part of the television network.

Her departure deals a blow to Paramount’s flagship Australian asset, which has historically been the network’s most successful program and driver of revenue.

Leong joinedMasterChef with co-hosts Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo in 2019 after the abrupt exit of Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris caused by a dispute over exclusivity and pay.

Melissa Leong has been axed from MasterChef Australia. 

People familiar with the situation, who spoke anonymously for fear of repercussions, said Leong was informed she would not appear in the next season earlier this month. Pre-production of the new season, which will air next year, has already commenced with new judges.

The exit of Leong leaves Ten and Endemol Shine, producers of MasterChef, with one returning judge to front the season next year. Co-host Zonfrillo died suddenly in April at the age of 46.

Paramount, the owner of Channel Ten, is expected to formally announce Leong’s departure and the new co-host to replace Zonfrillo at its annual upfronts on Tuesday.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been floated as one of the potential replacements, but sources familiar with the program said former MasterChef runner-up Poh Ling Yeow and Michelin star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli join Allen on the judging throne.

Channel Ten’s newest program, Dessert Masters, is also hosted by Leong and will premiere on November 12. The MasterChef spin-off runs for a far shorter duration and is not distributed into international markets (MasterChef is broadcast in 60 countries around the