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The Farewell.
The founding trio's last season together — a full-length competition with new mentors, an expanded finale, and three panelists working at the limit of a format they built.
A rhythm worth tracking.
Season eleven closes the founding trio's eleven-year run. Mehigan, Calombaris, and Preston judge their final season with the settled authority of a panel that built the format from scratch. The grand finale expands to three finalists, and three former competitors replace Shannon Bennett as mentors. Nigella Lawson and Massimo Bottura both appear. The season is a complete and capable competition, but it carries the weight of a transition — and the run below is stronger than the run above.
The #12 slot.
Slot #12 of 16 in the MasterChef Australia Editor's Canon. The seasons on either side show what I ranked it against.
4 moments, no spoilers.
- Former contestant mentors
Three former high-achieving competitors take the mentor role, replacing Shannon Bennett. Their firsthand knowledge of what this competition asks changes the texture of the guidance they give.
- Grand finale · three finalists
The finale expands from two to three contestants. The structural change adds a pressure layer to the final stretch of competition.
- All-in Elimination Challenge
A new challenge format where the entire active field competes simultaneously. The format makes visible who the field's current ceiling is.
- Nigella Lawson and Massimo Bottura
Both of the founding era's most distinguished recurring guests appear in the same season — an unusual concentration of culinary credibility in a single run.