There’s some seriously impressive chefs among the mix for MasterChef Australia Back To Win 2025, but there’s one that particularly stands out for judge Andy Allen.
During an exclusive interview ahead of the season premiere, Andy told Chattr that he was particularly excited to see Laura Sharrad return, who came runner-up on both Season 6 and Season 12.
“You’ve got people like Laura, Callum [Hann] and Sarah [Todd] who are obviously there for a third time. And I feel like that goes to show how much this competition means to people. I just can’t help but single out Laura, who’s a new mum.
“She had a six-month-old baby when she walked back into the kitchen this year; she’s got businesses.
“For her to drop everything, and just for that, probably, last chance of lifting that trophy, just goes to show like after 17 seasons, where we’re still going strong, which is lovely.”
Andy judged Laura during his first stint as a MasterChef judge in season 12.
“If it wasn’t for an icy Jerusalem artichoke ice cream, then she may have come out on top,” Andy laughed, referencing her controversial dessert choice in the first Back to Win finale.
Who else is Andy excited to see on MasterChef Back to Win 2025?
But he added that while he’s glad that Laura is having a third shot at the MasterChef winner’s trophy, he’s excited about the entire cast of Back to Win 2025.
“I’m glad that Laura came back. It’s her third time now. For her to come that close, not once, but twice, she’s come second,” he said.
“I’m stoked that she’s back, but I’m actually just happy that everyone has given it another crack. It’s been so amazing to watch people from last season, all the way back to season one, grow again. No matter what you’ve done in the past, you walk into that kitchen, it just makes you grow, whether it’s as a person or as a cook.”
MasterChef Australia premieres Monday, April 28 at 7.30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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