MasterChef Australia star makes shock admission ahead of 2025 premiere: 'I'm a bit rusty'
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.'
Melissa left MasterChef Australia last year under a cloud of suspicion about an alleged feud with her former co-host Allen.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Princess Andre says she's 'in love' with £16 shimmer body oil that leaves a radiant glow
Princess Andre swears by an affordable £16 shimmer body oil that leaves skin soft, radiant, and glowing all summer long Princess Andre is always looking radiant, and the 18-year-old has recently revealed the secret behind her glow: a £16 shimmer body oil that she says she's 'in love' with. Affordable, easy to use, and perfect for maintaining that back-from-the-beach look, Space NK's Caribbean Shores Shimmer Body Oil is the product in question. Available in three different colours, including Pearl, Golden, and Bronze, these wallet-friendly oils are the perfect way to bring some sunshine into your body care. Juicy mandarin, creamy coconut, and floral jasmine are mixed with warm notes of sandalwood and caramel for a summer-ready scent that lingers on the skin all day long. The oil has also been enriched with adaptogen ashwagandha and argan oil, so it deeply hydrates while leaving skin radiant and luminous all year round. Not only does it give you that holiday glow on demand, but it's also kinder to the planet. The bottle is made with single-substrate plastic and recycled material, and you can reuse the pump, helping to reduce waste. This is a win for the environment and a win for your summer bodycare routine. It's super affordable at £16, but we've rounded up a few other shimmer oils we've been loving this summer below... Best shimmer body oils NUXE Huile Prodigieuse® Or Shimmering Multi-Purpose Dry Oil Available for £22 here If you're looking to enhance your summer glow, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is a must-have. Its nourishing blend of seven botanical oils deeply hydrates the skin and is suitable for all skin types. In addition to softening and plumping, the natural ingredients in this elixir offer anti-aging and antioxidant properties, as well as the ability to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks. With notes of orange blossom, vanilla, and magnolia, this dry oil not only smells amazing but gives you the radiant glow you've been looking for. Coco & Eve Antioxidant Glow Shimmer Body Oil Available for £28 here For those who want to take their summer tan to the next level, real or fake, Coco & Eve's shimmer body oil is the perfect option. This lightweight oil is designed to complement your bronze with a silky, luminous finish. Fast-absorbing and non-greasy, it leaves your skin feeling smooth, plump, and moisturised in all the right places. Whether you're heading to the beach or stepping out for a night in the city, this oil is your secret to a sun-kissed look all season long. Available for £24.90 here To revive dull-looking skin and add a touch of sparkle to your summer glow, Ritual's shimmer body oil delivers just the right amount of subtle shimmer. Infused with the refreshing scents of white tea and lotus flower, this oil feels like summer in a bottle. The pearlescent mineral particles ensure a radiant and luminous finish that keeps your skin looking vibrant all day long.
Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Travel Review: Sri Lanka's traditional Kandyan dance perfectly encapsulates the passion, creativity and resilience of its people
A barefooted boy saunters to the front of the hall, holding a two-headed geta beraya drum that almost spans his entire frame. His focused and determined face suggests a maturity beyond his teenage years. He closes his eyes and inhales. This morning, I'm joining pupils at Madyama Lanka Nruthya Mandalaya — a cultural academy hidden in the mountains outside Amunugama. Together, we watch the drummer's bare hands crash down onto the barrel-shaped instrument, heralding the start of our class in traditional Kandyan dance — a hypnotic art form that originated nearby in Kandy, the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings.
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Princess Andre strips down to bikini as mum Katie brands her ‘my little stunner' amid Peter feud
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRINCESS Andre stripped down to her swimwear on social media amid an explosive feud between her parents Katie and Peter. The ITV2 reality star, whose new show The Princess Diaries has proved a huge hit this week, shared a series of snaps of herself in Ibiza which were taken while she filmed the series. 8 Princess Andre posted a series of snaps from her trip to Ibiza tonight Credit: Instagram 8 She ignored her parents feud and chose to highlight her paradise trip instead Credit: Instagram 8 Princess's holiday features in her new reality show Credit: Instagram 8 The Princess Diaries is available on ITVX and aired on ITV2 this week Credit: Instagram Princess, 18, looked just like her glamour model mum with her hair in its natural blonde curls as she posed in a white bikini adorned with pink flowers. In the first snap, she wore a crocheted crop top with her bikini bottoms, as she posed on the deck of a boat. After going for a swim with her brother Junior, which was filmed for the series, she is seen in another picture pulling herself out of the shimmer blue waters to climb back onboard. Referencing the scene which aired in the third episode of her docuseries, Princess captioned the snaps: "Apparently fish love me… for all the wrong reasons. If you know, you know." She was referring to a moment in the series when she panicked that there were jellyfish in the water as her brother threw her an inflatable flamingo. It seems Princess is happy to keep the focus on her TV endeavours while her parents are locked in a feud on social media. In recent weeks, Katie Price has taken a series of swipes at ex Peter Andre on her podcast, blaming him and his management - who also represent Princess - for not allowing her to appear in the ITV2 show. Peter Andre's statement in full Peter hit back after Katie's claims on her recent podcast that she was being frozen out of Princess's career - despite Princess living with her. Peter wrote on Instagram: "For sixteen years I have stayed silent in the face of repeated lies from my ex-wife and her family, out of respect for my children and loved ones, but staying silence has been incredibly frustrating. "That ends today. "The latest comments about my children's welfare and living arrangements compel me to set the record straight. "For well-documented reasons, and for their safety, Junior and Princess came into my care in 2018 and remained with me until they reached adulthood. "In 2019, the family courts issued a legally binding order to enforce this arrangement. I have never made this public before out of respect for my children." "In 2011 and 2015, publicly documented court cases found my ex wife had made false claims. She was ordered to pay substantial damages and legal costs, and to apologise, to me and my management. "The same falsehoods are being repeated today." "Unfortunately, there are many more lies and baseless accusations that I have yet to address. Those will be dealt with in the coming months." His statement came just hours after Katie claimed that Princess was living with her on her latest podcast. She said: "I've missed out so much with Princess. I haven't watched the show, but, people have told me how proud I should be of the kids and how Princess does talk highly of me all the way through it so although I'm not in the show she speaks about me all the time which is really sweet. "But why wouldn't she, because she lives with me. And this is another thing I need to clear up, the kids have never lived just with Pete, we've shared the kids." But last night, Peter had had enough and posted a blistering statement to his instagram. He began: "For sixteen years I have stayed silent in the face of repeated lies from my ex-wife and her family, out of respect for my children and loved ones, but staying silence has been incredibly frustrating. "That ends today." Katie Price reaches out to ex Peter Andre after years of not speaking as she vows to heal 'rift' over Princess He went on to claim Princess and Junior have been in his care "for their safety" since 2018. He claimed this was made legally binding the following year, something he says he didn't go public about to protect the kids. He also vowed that he was dealing with "baseless accusations" from Katie and her camp. After Peter's surprise statement, Katie hit back via her rep. 8 Princess when she was a kid with her mum Katie Credit: GC Images - Getty 8 Now the pair regularly hit the red carpet together Credit: Splash 8 Katie does not appear in Princess's show though Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 8 Princess has spoken out about her parents' beef Credit: princessandrex/Snapchat They told The Sun: "Kate is in a much better and clear headspace and is at peace with the situation. "This was in the past and she doesn't feel the need to bring up tit for tat comments, but more importantly she's dealing with this the right way and it's now in her lawyers hands. "Kate will no longer be gaslighted and bullied as she once was." Following Katie's comments, Peter's manager Claire Powell, who also once managed Katie, spoke out. She shared a post on her Instagram story that read: 'The most dangerous anger comes from someone with a good heart. 'They hold it in, stay calm, and forgive, until one day they can't anymore. 'Don't push a good person too far.' After all the back and forth, Princess broke her silence on the fallout earlier today. On snapchat, one fan asked 'Does it affect you even now when your mum and dad don't get on?'. Princess responded: 'To be honest it doesn't affect me. At the end of the day, they broke up when I was two years old so I don't even have any memory of them being together,' she said. Over the top of the clip, Princess wrote: 'I love my mum and dad and that's all that matters.'
