28-04-2025
MasterChef Australia fans are convinced they already know who will win the new season as the debut episode offers up convincing clues
MasterChef Australia: Back To Win fans are already tipping Callum Hann to take out the title, after the fan favourite wowed viewers during Monday night's team challenge.
The seventeenth season of the hit cooking series has seen 24 returning contestants step back into the famous kitchen for another shot at the $250,000 grand prize.
Among them is South Australian chef Callum, who first captured hearts as the runner-up on season two, before returning for season 12 and placing fourth.
Since his last appearance, the talented cook has gone from strength to strength - opening two new restaurants and expanding his long-running cooking school, Sprout.
Now, he's back for a third time and appears more determined than ever to claim the prestigious title.
Monday's episode saw Callum step up as team leader in a high-stakes challenge - and fans quickly flooded social media to heap praise on his impressive leadership and creativity.
The seventeenth season of the hit cooking series has seen 24 returning contestants step back into the famous kitchen for another shot at the $250,000 grand prize
'Team Callum deserves the win not only for the food - but for the excellent teamwork and leadership of Callum!' one viewer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
'Callum you better win this whole damn thing!' another added, while a third cheered: 'Green team for the win!'
However, not all comments were glowing, with one viewer taking aim at the casting, claiming: 'Some of the contestants are VERY lame, only there to seem diverse.'
Despite the minor backlash, the overwhelming majority of fans have thrown their support behind Callum, with many convinced he's the frontrunner to win the entire series.
Judges Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli have returned to the panel this season, with Gordon Ramsay also joining as a special guest for the first week.
Alongside podium finishers, other faces are fresh from Season 16 like Darrsh Clarke, Sav Perera, and Snezana Calic.
Others are stepping back into the kitchen for the first time in years, including Andre Ursini who competed in the inaugural season 16 years ago.
It comes amid reports viewers have gone online to speculate that the producers have spoiled the show after dropping a promo poster showing just six of the 24 contestants who will battle it out in the kitchen.
Monday's episode saw Callum step up as team leader in a high-stakes challenge - and fans quickly flooded social media to heap praise on his impressive leadership and creativity
The featured contestants are lined up in the image and appear in various sizes, including Laura Sharrad who starred in seasons 6 and 12.
Also appearing in the promo are season 16's Savindri Perera and Darrsh Clarke as well as Tim Bone from season 11.
There's also Declan Cleary from season 15, while the image of fan favourite Steph De Sousa from season 11 looms largest in the poster.
Many fans felt Laura Sharrad was a shoe-in based on her appearance on the poster.
A fan Reddit started the discussion by asking, 'Do you think the winner is pictured?'
'Considering that Laura is the only pictured contestant from before season 11, do you think she wins, or do you think that the winner is not pictured?'
'I do think majority of them probably went far or did pretty well, while maybe at least one maybe goes out relatively early?' said one fan.
Observed another: 'It's interesting that those are the ones chosen for it. I do think just based on the trailers, it seems like Laura and Darrsh are the main characters so far.'
'The only one out of these that could realistically win is Laura, I think.'
It comes after controversial celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, 58, was announced as a guest judge on the new season's Back to Win competition which is set to premiere on April 28.
The notoriously hot-tempered Ramsay will be joined in the kitchen by regular judges Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Ramsay last appeared on the hit cooking competition in 2018.
Andre Ursini, who made his TV debut in 2009 as a contestant on MasterChef Australia, recently announced his return to the show.
The 44-year-old chef and restaurateur posted the news on his Instagram, along with a fresh trailer for the Back To Win season.
