Latest news with #AndreUrsini
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
MasterChef Australia contestant eliminated after 'daunting' challenge went wrong - as the cooking competition nears final weeks
MasterChef Australia is getting to the pointy end with just eight contestants left in the competition. On Sunday night, the latest chef from the Back To Win season to leave the kitchen was Audra Morrice. Audra, who first appeared on MasterChef Australia in 2012, saw her Spanish seafood paella deemed 'inconsistent' by the judges, and she was sent home. 'I actually feel really good. I came in to show the simplicity of cultural cuisine. And that food doesn't always have to be complicated' the chef said upon getting the bad news that she was out of the competition. 'This kitchen is addictive. I won't deny it was a bit daunting. It really put me out of my comfort zone, which I love' she added. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Speaking to website Draw Your Box, Audra said that she has relished reliving the challenge. 'I just kind of went into this and just cooked what came to mind and what I felt in the flow of the moment' she said. 'Sometimes it was an epic success, sometimes it was a disastrous fail, but all I wanted to do was cook wholeheartedly and put delicious food on the table.' Last week, an emotional Poh Ling Yeow struggled to hold back tears on as she bid farewell to contestant Andre Ursini. Andre appeared alongside Poh on the inaugural MasterChef season back in 2009. However, his second chance at success was foiled after he lost a Pressure Test that tasked Andre and fellow contestants Alanah Lowes and Snezana Calic with recreating an ornate dessert by renowned pastry chef Philip Khoury. When it came time for Andre to make his exit, judge Poh became emotional when reflecting on the journey that she and Andre had started together. 'Andre, we started this journey together – whoa – 16 years ago,' Poh said, with tears welling in her eyes. 'For the past 16 years, I've watched you not only become a really brilliant cook and an amazing entrepreneur, but an amazing husband and dad.' An emotional Poh added that having the chance to see Andre in the MasterChef kitchen again was a pleasure. 'It's been so nice and fun to be back in the kitchen with you,' she said. 'I love that you've always marched to the beat of your own drum.' Poh then lightened the mood, joking: 'And I hope that that never changes, even though sometimes I do – no I don't, I really don't.' Obviously touched by Poh's heartwarming tribute, Andre wasn't shy about returning the compliments. 'I was pretty inspired that first time I walked in – seeing my mate in the bright shining light where she belongs,' he said. Andre continued to heap praise on the MasterChef judge saying: 'Poh is a jewel in the crown of the Australian culinary scene.' 'She's one of the most genuine and unique individuals that we've all been around. 'She's basically going to start levitating any year now,' he joked. Speaking to camera after making his emotional exit, Andre was philosophical about his elimination, despite being 'devastated'. 'Being eliminated, I'm devastated, but I've come so far in the competition,' he said. 'It's taken me 16 years to re-emerge – I came in here with no expectations and got to top ten. 'I'm feeling pretty invigorated. I've rediscovered my passion for cooking after all these years and, from now on until the time I die, I'm going to keep cooking.'
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Poh Ling Yeow struggles to hold back tears on MasterChef as she bids farewell to contestant Andre Ursini
An emotional Poh Ling Yeow struggled to hold back tears on Tuesday's MasterChef Australia as she bid farewell to contestant Andre Ursini. Andre appeared alongside Poh on the inaugural MasterChef season back in 2009. However, his second chance at success was foiled after he lost a Pressure Test that tasked Andre and fellow contestants Alanah Lowes and Snezana Calic with recreating an ornate dessert by renowned pastry chef Philip Khoury. When it came time for Andre to make his exit, judge Poh became emotional when reflecting on the journey that she and Andre had started together. 'Andre, we started this journey together – whoa – 16 years ago,' Poh said, with tears welling in her eyes. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'For the past 16 years, I've watched you not only become a really brilliant cook and an amazing entrepreneur, but an amazing husband and dad.' An emotional Poh added that having the chance to see Andre in the MasterChef kitchen again was a pleasure. 'It's been so nice and fun to be back in the kitchen with you,' she said. 'I love that you've always marched to the beat of your own drum.' Poh then lightened the mood, joking: 'Even though sometimes I do – no I don't, I really don't.' Obviously touched by Poh's heartwarming tribute, Andre wasn't shy about returning the compliments. 'I was pretty inspired that first time I walked in – seeing my mate in the bright shining light where she belongs,' he said. Andre continued to heap praise on the MasterChef judge saying: 'Poh is a jewel in the crown of the Australian culinary scene.' 'She's one of the most genuine and unique individuals that we've all been around. 'She's basically going to start levitating any year now,' he joked. Speaking to camera after making his emotional exit, Andre was philosophical about his elimination, despite being 'devastated.' 'Being eliminated, I'm devastated, but I've come so far in the competition,' he said. 'It's taken me 16 years to re-emerge – I came in here with no expectations and got to top ten. He added: 'I'm feeling pretty invigorated. I've rediscovered my passion for cooking after all these years and, from now on until the time I die, I'm going to keep cooking.' Poh also repeated her sentiment on Instagram, commenting under a post on the MasterChef page about Andre's exit. 'This is very hard for me to say, but I'm super proud of you,' she wrote. 'It has shaved 2 years off my life with every pressure test I've had to watch u do so that adds up to 6 years, which is very expensive for my well being. 'I love the conviction and stoicism with which you walk through life. See you on the flip side.' Fans also flooded to the comments to echo Poh's words, with many praising Andre as their favourite contestant. 'Dammit. I'm sobbing,' one wrote. 'So sad you've gone Andre. What an absolute joy you are.' Another chimed in with a similar: 'So sad to see that one of my favourites has left. You are a joy to watch Andre. You're amazing and always full of energy and humour. You will be missed.' Andre appeared alongside 19 hopefuls, including Poh and Julie Goodwin, on the inaugural MasterChef season in 2009. He was eliminated while Julie and Poh went on to claim winner and runner-up titles, respectively.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
MasterChef Australia fans are convinced a promo poster for the 2025 season SPOILS the winner
MasterChef Australia 2025 is set to premiere on Monday. This season sees 24 past contestants come back to win the MasterChef trophy and $250,000 in prize money. Among the cast are MasterChef fan favourites, including season one's Andre Ursini, Sarah Todd from season 14 and Tim Bone from season 11. And already fans of the cooking competition have emerged with a theory about who will be crowned the winner. 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. 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. The preview features the dramatic moment he was booted off the show in season one. 'I got eliminated on a Sri Lankan curry taste test,' the Adelaide-based chef says in the voice over. Also included is new footage of a now bearded Andre working on a recipe. 'I haven't been in the MasterChef kitchen for about 16 long time,' he continues. He also teased his hopes for the new season. 'I've ticked all my food creative goals, my work goals, my life goals,' he said. 'But I've never held that [MasterChef] trophy.' The former reality star has opened several notable eateries in South Australia, including the award-winning Andre's Cucina & Polenta Bar in Adelaide, ORSO, Villetta Porcini, Lost Phoenix Farm and Willmott's Gastronomia.
