Andy Allen has been a pillar of MasterChef Australia since he won the show in 2012, but could he be ready to step away from the show as a judge? Say it ain’t so!
According to Woman’s Day insiders, Andy Allen “could soon hang up his apron for good.”
As the only original judge remaining from the 2020 judge revamp, Andy has reportedly “found it hard to keep the kitchen fires burning,” since Melissa Leong left the series and Jock Zonfrillo passed away in 2023. He apparently hopes to shift focus to his cooking career and blossoming family.
So who will replace Andy if this rumour proves true? An early frontrunner is former contestant Declan Cleary. Yes, you read that right.
Declan quickly became a fan favourite in 2023 for his quirky personality and surviving 13 pressure tests before returning to the kitchen in 2025 for Back To Win. Away from the show, he made headlines for his relationship with fellow MasterChef alum Sarah Todd, with whom he welcomed twin girls in 2024.
With all this in mind, he could be the sort of judge to breathe new life into the show.
“Nothing’s set in stone just yet – but Declan is made for TV, and the whispers are louder than a pressure test countdown,” an insider told Woman’s Day. “He’s got the cooking credentials, the personality, the backstory, and let’s be honest – the fan base. Declan’s just waiting for someone to hand him the tasting spoon and make it official.”
Declan’s partner Sarah Todd is set to appear as a guest judge on the 2026 season, so could this be laying the groundwork for Declan’s arrival? Apparently, Declan is ‘the perfect mix of talent and larrikin energy’ the show craves, Woman’s Day reports.
If Andy were to leave, his departure would follow Melissa’s decision to exit the main MasterChef series three years ago, which followed the tragic death of fellow judge, Jock.
Why did Melissa Leong leave MasterChef Australia?
In late 2023, Network 10 announced a major shake-up to the MasterChef Australia judging panel, confirming that Melissa Leong would step away from the main series after four years. While her exit sparked confusion among fans – as she was a favourite – the official reason provided by the network and Leong herself focused on the expansion of the franchise and conflicting production schedules.
Leong transitioned from the flagship show to lead the spin-off series, Dessert Masters, alongside pastry chef Amaury Guichon. Network 10 explained that because the two shows air back-to-back, each required its own hosting team.
Addressing the speculation surrounding her departure, Leong took to Instagram to clarify her stance: “I get that there is going to be a bit of confusion and chaos about the ‘why’ of it all right now,” she said.
“This is a shift I embrace with joy. One that allows everyone involved to expand.” She described her time on the main show as a “great gift” but emphasised her desire to evolve. “The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I’m so glad to do that, on my terms,” she said