Some are even competing for the third time.

Good news cooking lovers, MasterChef Australia returns for 2025 with a new collection of contestants hoping to take home the top prize.

In March, Australia’s Channel Ten confirmed that chefs from season one to season sixteen of MasterChef are returning for the 17th season for more challenges designed to push them out of their comfort zones.

Judges for MasterChef Australia 2025 are none other than Andy Allen, Poh Ling-Yeow, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Sofia Levin.

The network has teased some special guest chefs will also make an appearances, but have not yet confirmed who.

MasterChef Australia: Back To Win premieres in NZ on Monday 5 May. Then, it will screen 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ 2 and stream on TVNZ+.

Continue scrolling to get to know all the MasterChef Australia 2025 contestants.

Andre Ursini

Placed 7th in Season One

Despite returning to the kitchen for the seventeenth season of MasterChef, Andre admittedly hasn’t cooked “in a long time.”

“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,” he confessed to The Sunday Mail.

“Now I just want to concentrate on cooking again and have some fun—that’s my main agenda.”

Audra Morrice

Placed 3rd in Season Four

“The day I walked into the kitchen, 
it all came flooding back to me. I remembered how incredible this experience was the first time around,” Audra confessed to TV WEEK. “The impact of it changed my life.”

After finishing third in season four, Audra pivoted from telecommunications to a TV career,
as a celebrated judge on MasterChef Singapore and MasterChef Asia. Despite this experience, Audra affirmed it doesn’t “give you a leg up” like fans may believe.

Cath Collins

Placed 5th in Season Fifteen

Since placing fifth in season fifteen, the Victorian mum has transformed her passion for food into a lifestyle, launching Cath’s Kitchen, where she runs inclusive cooking classes. Returning for season seventeen, Cath describes herself as a “wiser, calmer cook.”

“I think that perhaps I put too much pressure on myself last time,” she recalled to TV WEEK. “Whereas this time I’m just going in to meet all the other contestants, learn from them and hang out.”

Alana Lowes

Placed 3rd in Season Three

 

Beau Cook

Placed 8th in Season Four

 

Ben Macdonald

Placed 6th in Season Six

 

Callum Hann

Placed 2nd in Season Two, & Placed 4th in Season Twelve

 

Darrsh Clarke

Placed 6th in Season Sixteen

 

Declan Cleary

Placed 3rd in Season Fifteen

 

Depinder Chhibber

Placed 8th in Season Thirteen

 

Jamie Fleming

Placed 4th in Season Six

 

Jimmy Wong

Placed 19th in Season Eight

 

Laura Sharrad

Placed 2nd in Season Six, & Placed 2nd in Season Twelve

 

Matt Hopcraft

Placed 6th in Season Seven

 

Pete Campbell

Placed 2nd in Season Thirteen

 

Rhiannon Anderson

Placed 2nd in Season Fifteen

 

Rue Mupedzi

Placed 7th in Season Fifteen

 

Samira El Khafir

Placed 3rd in Season Five

 

Sarah Todd

Placed 9th in Season Six & Placed 2nd in Season Fourteen

 

Sav Perera

Placed 3rd in Season Sixteen

 

Snezana Calic

Placed 15th in Season Sixteen

 

Steph de Sousa

Placed 12th in Season Eleven

 

Theo Loizou

Placed 4th in Season Fifteen

 

Tim Bone

Placed 4th in Season Eleven

MasterChef Australia: Back To Win premieres Monday 5 May, then will screen 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ 2 and stream on TVNZ+.