It has been a turbulent ride for MasterChef Australia following the news of Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston’s shock departure.
Mehigan, 52, has set the record straight in his first interview since the headline making news. He told the Sydney Morning Herald, “I didn’t think they’d do it without picking up the phone. It was abrupt, but that’s television. And there are many stories like that.”
Mehigan was quick to squash claims that all three judges were let go due to pay-rise demands, he told the publication, “there’s the ‘three greedy judges’ narrative, then there’s reality.”
Mehigan added that he thought the network would have tried to meet them half way. He adds, “that’s what saddens me. We’d always imagined we’d farewell our viewers and pass the baton to three younger and possibly brighter stars … there was a grieving process; a sense of loss, a sense of anger and some tears.”
Although the Masterchef Australia chapter has closed, Megihan has a lot going on to keep him busy – his podcast A Plate to Call Home, an upcoming Weight Watchers cookbook and his booming homewares range.
Mehigan candidly remarks that “after 11 years, it’s time to step off those floorboards and do something different.”
