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North East Regional Extra, Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - Page 1
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HERE’S plenty of cause for celebration in the MasterChef kitchen these days – not only is the series nominated for three Logie Awards, but after 12 weeks of competition, the remaining Back to Win contestants are truly at the top of their game. “We are at the extremely pointy end of the competition now and it just keeps heating up,” says judge Sofia Levin, who’s in the running for the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent. “The contestants are the best they’ve ever been, yet somehow they continue to grow and redefine themselves at an exponential rate. “We have seriously talented guest chefs coming up, from a sweet mix of new and old – think a challenge with our first-ever winner Julie Goodwin, and our most recent winner, Nat Thaipun – to those who are leaving their stamp on the world stage thanks to the unique way they approach ingredients and dishes, like Vaughan Mabee from Amisfield Restaurant in Aotearoa/New Zealand.” The series’ current quartet of judges – Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow, Andy Allen and Levin – began filming their first season together in 2023, which just now being recognised by the Logie Awards. Levin couldn’t be more excited to see their work nominated for Best Competition Reality Program and to have her friend and colleague Ling Yeow up for the Gold Logie. “To have our MasterChef Australia fam up for three nominations for our first season together is so heartening!” enthuses Levin. “I think it speaks to how much people connect with the joy of the competition and its uplifting nature. It’s very cool to have both female hosts nominated for awards, and while I’m incredibly flattered to be up for New Talent, I’ll be the one in the room screaming the loudest for Poh!”
MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA
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TASTE OF SUCCESS