Yes, several MasterChef contestants have dated, with the most prominent recent example being Sarah Todd and Declan Cleary from the 2025 season, who found love on the show, moved in together, and recently welcomed twins, while another long-running couple is Chris Badenoch and Julia Jenkins from the first season (2009), who are still together and married. Other rumored or confirmed romances have occurred, including Poh Ling Yeow with a production runner, and sparks between others like Matt and Tessa.
From MasterChef competitors to real-life romance: This is Sarah Todd and Declan Cleary's relationship. They were supposed to compete against one another, but instead they found love.
It had already been forced to edit the programme to reduce the prominence of Wallace and Torode and remove Shafi's appearance. It has now been edited further to remove another contestant, who has asked not to be identified, according to the BBC.
The MasterChef Australia contestant who famously left the show in 2021 for mental health reasons was Brent Draper, a boilermaker who felt overwhelming anxiety and pressure affecting his sleep and cooking, leading him to step away to prioritize his well-being and family, a decision he later became a mental health advocate for.
MasterChef contestant Matthew Gagnon has died. He was 42. The Connecticut native died “unexpectedly” on Monday, Dec. 15, according to his obituary.
Another contestant, Sarah Shafi, was also removed from the series after asking for it not to be broadcast, following a report which upheld claims against hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
However, the contestants of MasterChef receive a comfortable payout of $ 600 to $ 650 per week, along with the stay, travel, and meal costs covered.
“You could not conjure that. Some people thought it was manifested by the producers. But the proof is in the pudding: six years on we've both ended up in the exact same position in different states and we still consider each other best mates,” Ben says.
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The death of 46 year old MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo was simply shocking for his family, friends and many thousands of fans. His wife Lauren couldn't believe it then and now two years later, she still can't believe Jock is gone. In a raw interview Lauren speaks about her devastation, those first days and life now.
Christine Ha lost her vision due to a medical condition called Neuromyelitis Optica almost two decades ago. As a chef, she was up against one of the biggest challenges she'd face in her career and had to re-learn how to cook without her vision.
Asher Niles was a contestant on Season 9 of MasterChef Junior. He ranked in 4th place.
Sashikumar "Sashi" Cheliah (born 10 June 1979) is a Singaporean-born Australian chef of Indian descent who won the tenth season of MasterChef Australia in 2018. He established his culinary career by opening pop-up restaurants in Melbourne and Adelaide.
8 Most Successful 'MasterChef' Contestants Ever
Is MasterChef really reality or is it actually scripted? “The challenge is real, the clock is real, and the judges really judge our dishes based on what we manage to put out within the time frame given.” From the moment the challenge starts, it is very real.
'MasterChef Junior' Contestant Ben Watkins Dies of Cancer at 14 - IMDb. “MasterChef Junior” contestant Ben Watkins died of cancer on Monday at the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
According to Telly Talkies, the Naagin 6 actress is the highest-paid contestant on Celebrity MasterChef. Tejasswi Prakash is reportedly charging a whopping 3 lakhs per week. Having also been part of shows like Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 and Bigg Boss 15, this inevitably speaks volumes of her bankability.
Matt Gagnon, a Season 11 contestant on MasterChef, died unexpectedly at age 42. Gagnon was remembered for his devotion to his children, love of cooking, and joyful spirit, with family and friends highlighting his warmth and humor.
A contestant from the latest series of MasterChef has been edited out of the programme, after telling its producers she did not want the show to be broadcast after sustained allegations made against presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
For both unused ingredients and uneaten meals, the U.S. "MasterChef" donates to Los Angeles charity Meet Each Need with Dignity or to Feeding America. All organic waste that cannot be reused or donated is composted as part of what BBC One calls an "extensive waste management system."
The MasterChef Australia contestant who famously left the show in 2021 for mental health reasons was Brent Draper, a boilermaker who felt overwhelming anxiety and pressure affecting his sleep and cooking, leading him to step away to prioritize his well-being and family, a decision he later became a mental health advocate for.
Christina Tosi and David Chang are practically siblings
But Chang quickly realized Tosi's culinary potential and let her have free reign over the Momofuku dessert menu. "There are very few people who have the freedom to do what they want in the company," Chang said in The Guardian. "She does. I trust her completely."
In May 2019, Bastianich announced his departure from MasterChef Italia in order to dedicate himself to his passion for music. In mid-September of the same year, Bastianich released his first album, titled "Aka Joe".