Former MasterChef Australia star Melissa Leong’s mortifying TV gaffe: ‘Why would I say that?’

Former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong was left red-faced after an ’embarrassing’ food-related gaffe on-air over the weekend.

Melissa’s food faux pas occurred during her appearance on Channel 10 quiz show Have You Been Paying Attention? on Sunday night.

Panelist Ed Kavalee asked the TV gourmand what was her go-to soup – a seemingly innocuous question that threw Melissa for a loop.

Flustered with being put on the spot, Melissa offered ‘chicken noodle soup’ as her answer.

Despite chicken noodle being a very popular soup, Melissa has revealed the dish doesn’t even make it into her top 10.

Her rushed answer also sent the star into a low-key anxiety spiral, causing her to think about the answer for ‘days.’

‘It’s not my favourite soup. Why would I say that,’ Melissa told news.com.au. ‘That happened on Sunday and I’m still sitting on it.’

Melissa added that her soupy slip-up had caused her to reflect on some of the best she has tried in her life, with none coming close to chicken noodle.

Former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong was left red-faced after an ’embarrassing’ food-related gaffe on-air over the weekend 

Melissa's food faux pas occurred during her appearance on Channel 10 quiz show Have You Been Paying Attention? on Sunday night. Melissa is pictured with HYBPA host Tom Gleisner

Melissa’s food faux pas occurred during her appearance on Channel 10 quiz show Have You Been Paying Attention? on Sunday night. Melissa is pictured with HYBPA host Tom Gleisner

‘[I’ve since been] thinking back on all the memories of amazing soups I’ve had in my life, in Hong Kong, the most beautiful bowl of Wonton noodle soup, with red vinegar, and you dip the beautiful plump parcels of dumpling into red vinegar as you’re slurping the soup,’ she said.

The food critic was dropped from MasterChef Australia last year amid rumours of a feud between herself and fellow judges Andy Allen and the late Jock Zonfrillo, which she has denied.

She went on to host MasterChef spinoff series Dessert Masters alongside Amaury Guichon.

The former cooking show judge has teased yet another new gig after landing roles in sports reporting, children’s TV and and the health sector.

Panelist Ed Kavalee asked the TV gourmand what was her go-to soup - a seemingly innocuous question that threw Melissa for a loop. Flustered with being put on the spot, Melissa offered 'chicken noodle soup' as her answer

Panelist Ed Kavalee asked the TV gourmand what was her go-to soup – a seemingly innocuous question that threw Melissa for a loop. Flustered with being put on the spot, Melissa offered ‘chicken noodle soup’ as her answer 

‘All will be revealed soon, but I am working on another show,’ the 42-year-old told the Daily Telegraph this week.

It comes after Melissa announced she is realising a childhood dream by appearing on the ABC’s Playschool.

‘I grew up watching Playschool’ she began in her caption on Instagram recently.

Despite chicken noodle being a very popular soup, Melissa has revealed the dish doesn't even make it into her top 10

Despite chicken noodle being a very popular soup, Melissa has revealed the dish doesn’t even make it into her top 10 

This iconic show has been a part of Australian entertainment for 60 years, and so it blows my mind that coming up this week, I get to be part of the magic!’

She continued: ‘This is the only time you’re ever going to see me sing and dance on television, just so you know how much I wanted to do this!’

Melissa also fronted a new three-part documentary series about Australia’s health system.

The TV star appeared in the new SBS docuseries The Hospital: In The Deep End in June.

 

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