Andre Ursini has made a shocking admission ahead of his long-awaited return to MasterChef Australia after making his TV debut on the show 16 years ago.
The celebrity cook, 44, shot to fame on the Channel Ten series in 2009 and went on to become an award-winning foodie—but now the hospitality businessman has revealed he may be ‘a bit rusty’ for his return to television.
He revealed on Sunday that since his rise to fame, Andre has barely stepped foot in a kitchen and often ‘delegates’ as he manages his successful restaurants, reported The Sunday Mail.
‘I haven’t cooked in a long time,’ Andre said.
‘As I developed these businesses, it took me away from the kitchen. I delegate a lot, it’s been less hands-on. It’s more about managing people and numbers.
‘Now I just want to concentrate on cooking again and have some fun—that’s my main agenda.’
Andre Ursini has made a shocking admission ahead of his long-awaited return to MasterChef Australia after making his TV debut on the show 16 years ago
Andre is set to return to the kitchen in the upcoming season of MasterChef Australia: Back to Win.
The chef and restaurateur posted the news on his Instagram, along with a trailer for the upcoming season of the cooking competition.
The preview features the dramatic moment he was booted off the show in season one.
‘I got eliminated on a Sri Lankan curry taste test,’ the Adelaide food guru said in the voice over.
Also included is new footage of a now bearded Andre working on a recipe.
‘I haven’t been in the MasterChef kitchen for about 16 years… bloody long time,’ he continued.
‘I’m back, time to start cooking again.’
He also teased his hopes for the new season.
The celebrity cook shot to fame on the Channel Ten series in 2009 and went on to become an award-winning foodie—but now the hospitality businessman has revealed he may be ‘a bit rusty’ for his return to television
‘I’ve ticked all my food creative goals, my work goals, my life goals,’ he said.
‘But I’ve never held that [MasterChef] trophy.’
The former reality star has opened several notable eateries in South Australia, including the award-winning Andre’s Cucina & Polenta Bar in Adelaide, ORSO, Villetta Porcini, Lost Phoenix Farm and Willmott’s Gastronomia.
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting that former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong could be returning to the show.
According to a well-placed source, Melissa, 43, is putting wheels in motion to return to the cooking competition show, but only if another judge isn’t there.
‘Melissa told Ten that she’ll go back to MasterChef Australia when Andy Allen goes,’ a TV insider told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I think the idea of returning to what the show once was for her seems a bit daunting and the only way Melissa would ever return is if the whole format was revamped.’
He revealed on Sunday that since his rise to fame, Andre has barely stepped for in a kitchen and often ‘delegates’ as he manages his successful restaurants, reported The Sunday Mail
Following revelations of backstage tensions between Melissa and crew members employed by Ten’s production partner Endemol Shine in 2022, came news she was no longer in the MasterChef Australia line-up.
Melissa shocked fans when she shared news of her departure to Instagram one day before the network’s 2024 Upfronts.
‘The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I’m so glad to do that on my terms, today,’ she penned last October.
Meanwhile, affable Andy, 36, returned to the show in 2024 alongside three new judges.
Media darling Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Melbourne food critic Sofia Levin have all joined.
Melissa’s departure came after claims she had been axed following a string of publicised off-camera dramas.
She infamously had a blow up with the program’s hair and make-up team along with a substitute freelance hairstylist in 2022.
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