The fifteenth series of the Australian cooking game show ''

MasterChef Australia ''MasterChef Australia'' is an Australian competitive cooking reality show based on the original British ''MasterChef''. It is produced by Endemol Shine Australia and screens on Network 10. Restaurateur and chef Gary Mehigan, chef George Cal ...

'' premiered on 7 May 2023 on

Network 10 Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...

. The series was originally announced at

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

's and Network 10's

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in October 2022. Subtitled ''Secrets & Surprises'', the season featured 18 contestants, with 17 new to the show. Andy Allen,

Melissa Leong Melissa Leong (born 1982) is an Australian television host, freelance food writer, radio broadcaster, critic, cookbook editor and marketer. Life and career Leong was born in 1982 in Sydney. Her parents emigrated to Australia from Singapore. ...

, and

Jock Zonfrillo Barry "Jock" Zonfrillo (4 August 1976 – 30 April 2023) was a Scottish chef, television presenter and restaurateur. He was the founder of the Orana Foundation and a judge on '' MasterChef Australia''. Early life Zonfrillo was born in Glasgo ...

returned to the show as judges from the previous season. This is the last season to feature Jock Zonfrillo following his death on 30 April 2023. Filming of the season was completed in March 2023, before the death of Zonfrillo. The series was originally intended to premiere on 1 May 2023. Following Zonfrillo's death on 30 April, a day before the season premiere, it was confirmed that the show's premiere would be postponed. The series ''

The Bridge Australia ''El Puente'' (''The Bridge'') is a Spanish reality television series in which a group of contestants is challenged to work together as a team in order to build a bridge. Created and produced by Zeppelin TV (part of Endemol Shine Iberia), the fi ...

'' aired in its place. On 3 May 2023, Network 10 confirmed that the season would instead premiere on 7 May 2023; the premiere was preceded by a special edition of ''

The Sunday Project ''The Project'' (previously ''The 7PM Project'' from 2009 to 2011) is an Australian news-current affairs and talk show television panel program, airing weeknights across Australia on Network 10, produced by Roving Enterprises. The show is hosted ...

'' that paid tribute to Zonfrillo.

Changes

Compared to previous seasons, series 15 featured 18 contestants instead of the typical 24. Like the previous season, the season omitted the broadcast of the audition stage. Subtitled ''Secrets & Surprises'', this season sees a secret or surprise revealed to the contestants in every episode. One example was the introduction of a surprise "second chance apron", which was won by the winner of the first challenge in the season and kept secret from the rest of the contestants; it allowed the contestant to come back from elimination and compete for re-entry at the next elimination challenge.

Shannon Bennett Shannon Bennett (born 23 November 1975) is an Australian chef and author. He is best known as the head chef of restaurant Vue de Monde at Melbourne's Rialto Tower. Bennett currently serves as the creative director at the restaurant and its pare ...

returned as a mentor for immunity challenges.

Contestants

The full cast was announced on 23 April 2023. Former contestant Brent Draper, who withdrew from

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citing mental health concerns, returned as a contestant for the season.

Guests

Peter Gilmore John Peter Gilmore (25 August 1931 – 3 February 2013), known as Peter Gilmore, was an English actor, known for his portrayal of Captain James Onedin in 91 episodes of the BBC television period drama ''The Onedin Line'' (1971–1980), cre ...

Elimination chart

Episodes and ratings

; Colour key: : – Highest rating during the series : – Lowest rating during the series

References

{{MasterChef Australia, state=expanded MasterChef Australia 2023 Australian television seasons