Celebrity chef Poh Ling Yeow has seamlessly transitioned into her role as a judge on the popular television series MasterChef Australia, following her official debut on the Channel 10 show last year.
The Malaysian-born culinary expert opened up about filming for the show while also teasing some secret projects she’s been juggling.
“It’s going amazingly, I’m really loving it, super enjoying it,” she shared.
“There’s lots of little secret projects but I’m very superstitious, I don’t like to talk about them until they’re done. I feel like the lifeforce gets leeched out of it and then if it doesn’t work out you look like a tool!”
At 50, Yeow is not only diving into her judging duties but also has plans to resume her passion for painting and managing her Adelaide market stall once the filming wraps up.
Yeow’s addition to MasterChef Australia was announced last October, marking her return to the show in a more prominent capacity after first appearing as a contestant on its inaugural season, where she secured second place.
Over the years, she has made sporadic appearances on the show as a guest judge and mentor, as well as making a notable return as a contestant in the twelfth season in 2020.
Beyond her television endeavours, Yeow has established herself as a prominent figure in the culinary world, hosting acclaimed cooking shows such as ABC’s Poh’s Kitchen and SBS’s Poh & Co and Adam and Poh’s Great Australian Bites.
She is also an accomplished author, having penned multiple cookbooks, including What I Cook When Nobody’s Watching and Poh Bakes 100 Greats.
However, Yeow’s journey on MasterChef Australia has been tinged with sadness as well.
Last year, the show mourned the loss of longtime judge Jock Zonfrillo, who tragically passed away at the age of 46.
Zonfrillo had already filmed the 15th season of MasterChef Australia, which was originally scheduled to premiere on 1 May 2023 but was postponed to 7 May.
The premiere was preceded by a special episode of The Sunday Project, paying tribute to Zonfrillo’s life and contributions to the show.
