Callum Hann and Laura Sharrad went head to head in Tuesday night’s episode.

MasterChef's Callum Hann and Laura Sharrad.

MasterChef’s Callum Hann and Laura Sharrad went head to head in Tuesday night’s episode. Photo: Channel 10

This year’s season of MasterChef Australia came to a dramatic end on Tuesday night with Callum Hann and Laura Sharrad going head-to-head for the title. The two finalists have had remarkably similar journeys on the show, having both finished runner-up on their original season and competed on the first ‘Back To Win’ in 2020.

Armed with very different skill sets, the South Australian restaurateurs had to impress the judges in a two-round cook starting with an ingredient knockout challenge, followed by a pressure test set by pastry chef Michael ‘Miko’ Llamanzares-Aspiras. Round one saw Callum make a one-bite potato, rosemary, and oyster and receive a total of 38 points, while Laura served a samphire and potato risotto with a smoked pipi broth and also scored 38 points.

For round two, they each had 4.5 hours to recreate Miko’s Botanical Garden, which was an edible bouquet of flowers consisting of 149 steps. Callum was given 35 points, while Laura earned 48 points.

Ultimately, Laura was crowned the 2025 champion with a total score of 80 points and was awarded $250,000. Callum received $40,000 for finishing second, and Jamie Fleming took home $10,000 for coming third.

“This is like the most surreal feeling in the whole entire world,” she said following the win. “I’m truly so proud of myself for coming back for a third time, and completely setting myself up for heartbreak, and pulling off what I never thought I really could do, but I’ve wanted to for so long.

“I’ve dreamt of this moment since I was 13. To have my family here, to have had Florence up here today, watching me cook, has been the most truly special experience of my life.”

MasterChef's Laura Sharrad.

Laura Sharrad has won this year’s season of MasterChef Australia. Photo: Channel 10

Laura went on to thank Callum, adding: “Just the support that you’ve shown me throughout this competition both times has been so truly special. So thank you so much for everything.”

Andy Allen also said that Jock Zonfrillo, who was Laura’s mentor before his passing in 2023, would be incredibly proud of her.

“Laura, in this moment with you finally winning the title, it feels right to mention how proud Jock would be of you,” he remarked. “And it’s so amazing to know that he lives on through your food. So thank you.”

 

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While Laura is now a quarter of a million dollars richer following her third stint on the Channel 10 show, the money likely won’t hit her account for quite some time. Season nine champion Diana Chan told Yahoo Lifestyle in 2023 that she didn’t receive the eye-watering amount of cash until months after filming had wrapped.

“You don’t get it instantly,” she shared. “I don’t know if I’m actually meant to mention this, but I didn’t get it until like five months later.”

Diana said it was “a funny feeling” when the money finally arrived in her bank account and admitted she had no idea what to do with it.

“To be honest, I was making a decent amount of money doing other things that I actually put it aside and invested it,” she recalled. “I wouldn’t say I have it now anymore, this is six years down the track, but you use it on different things to start your career and whatever you want to do. The money’s there, and they never say, ‘You have to do this with the money’. So it’s entirely up to you what you want to do.”