It’s the end of an era for MasterChef Australia, with Network 10 announcing that all three longtime judges, Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris, will not return to the series next year.

Chief executive officer Paul Anderson said: “Despite months of negotiation, 10 has not been able to reach a commercial agreement that was satisfactory to Matt, Gary and George.”

“We would like to thank Gary, George and Matt for their contribution over the past 11 years,” he said.

“Australia is full of remarkable cooking talent and we can’t wait to introduce another group – and the next generation of exceptional judges – in season 12 of MasterChef Australia next year.”

View this post on Instagram

Thank you so very much for supporting @masterchefau over the last 11 years. We have loved every single moment. It is however with a heavy heart that I can confirm that season 11 was our last. We were really keen to continue but we were unable to agree to all terms for the new contract. We have enjoyed 11 wonderful years on Masterchef Australia with Network Ten, and I want to take this opportunity to thank Ten for this amazing opportunity and for Network Ten’s backing of this very special show. We have met some beautiful people, discovered and guided some of the brightest up-and-comers in the Australian food scene, worked with the best chefs in the world in front of the camera, and with the TV industry’s finest professionals behind the scenes. And of course, we three judges have formed a lifelong friendship that will live on far beyond the show. I want to take this opportunity to thank you and everyone who has shared our amazing journey with us – especially all those fantastic contestants. I look forward to sharing many more adventures with you in the future. And finally I wish the new judges all the best with the show that we love so much. Thank you all. I don’t want to take any gloss off tonight’s well deserved winner so I will not be making any further comment. Love Matt.

A post shared by Matt Preston (@mattscravat) on Jul 23, 2019 at 2:10am PDT

Taking to Instagram, judge and delicious. senior editor Matt Preston thanked the show’s many fans and reflected on his time on the show.

“Thank you so very much for supporting MasterChef over the last 11 years. We have loved every single moment,” he wrote.

“It is however with a heavy heart that I can confirm that season 11 was our last.
We were really keen to continue but we were unable to agree to all terms for the new contract.”

“We have met some beautiful people, discovered and guided some of the brightest up-and-comers in the Australian food scene, worked with the best chefs in the world in front of the camera, and with the TV industry’s finest professionals behind the scenes,” he continued.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank you and everyone who has shared our amazing journey with us – especially all those fantastic contestants.”

Since launching in 2009, MasterChef Australia has remained one of the country’s highest-rated reality TV shows as well as one of the most successful versions of the international format.