MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan sets the record straight about his shock exit

Former MasterChef Australia judge Gary Mehigan has set the record straight about the shock exit from the show over three years ago. 

The English-born chef, 56, left MasterChef show alongside fellow judges Matt Preston and George Calombaris in 2019, with Channel Ten claiming the network ‘couldn’t meet their demands for a pay rise’.

However Mehigan has now claimed the departure was presented to the public in a way that didn’t accurately reflect what went on behind the scenes.

‘I promised myself early on that once I felt that it wasn’t my thing, that it was time to move on,’ he said during a recent press conference in India, where he was filming a National Geographic show. 

‘The way we parted from Channel 10 was a little bit different. Ten decided to take the narrative and make it about the ‘greedy judges’. But it wasn’t.’ 

Elsewhere, Mehigan revealed why he hasn’t been a fan of MasterChef since his departure. 

‘[Contestants are] too professional for my liking. The first season for me is special because it was unexpected. I think the level of home cooks seemed genuine,’ he said.

Mehigan, Calombaris and Preston appeared on the show from season one in 2009 until the end of season 11 in 2019.

Mehigan has now claimed the departure was presented to the public in a way that didn’t accurately reflect what went on behind the scenes. ‘Ten decided to take the narrative and make it about the ‘greedy judges’. But it wasn’t’

MasterChef Australia’s original judging panel Mehigan (left) George Calombaris (right) and Matt Preston (centre) appeared on the show from season one in 2009 until the end of season 11 in 2019 

They were replaced by judges Melissa Leong, Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo, who took over judging duties as a trio until Jock’s shock death on April 30.

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Channel 10 for comment. 

Channel 10 is said to be on the hunt for a new judge to replace Zonfrillo, who tragically died in Melbourne, aged 46, on what was supposed to be the premiere of the latest season.

Mehigan, Calombaris and Preston appeared on the show from season one in 2009 until the end of season 11 in 2019. The trio were replaced by judges Melissa Leong (left), Andy Allen (right) and Jock Zonfrillo (centre)