Ex-MasterChef judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris in talks for I’m A Celebrity 2026
The original MasterChef Australia trio might be making a TV comeback, as rumours of their invitation to join the 2026 season of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! circulate.
The original judges, Matt Preston, George Calombaris, and Gary Mehigan, starred in the hit cooking show from it’s 2009 debut up until season 11, 2019, when they left due to failed contract negotiations.
However, an insider told New Idea that there’s talks of the trio returning to Network 10.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“It’s been positioned as a reset,” the insider said. “A chance to reintroduce themselves to audiences in a new light and reconnect with the network.”
The insider said the “jungle lifeline” has garnered “genuine interest” from the trio, however, there’s also “a lot to weigh up” for the former judges.
“It’s a very exposing show, and they’re all at different stages of life and career.”
The source said that one of the former judges has accepted the offer, although, their identity will be kept under wraps until the show starts up later in January.
Network 10 is also concerned that the current judges will feel like their jobs are threatened if the trio return to Network 10, the source said.
“They don’t want it to look like a stunt or a takeover bid,” they said. “This is about rebuilding relationships, not rewriting history.”
The opportunity will be a chance for Calombaris to rebuild his public image after he was slammed for underpaying his employees.
In 2019, Calombaris admitted to underpaying approximately 500 of his employees $7.8 million in wages over a six year period.
The Greek-Australian chef owns a hospitality group called MAdE Establishment, which is known for restaurants like Gazi and Jimmy Grants which collapsed in February 2020.
Calombaris and MAdE Establishment have since paid back its staff’s wage and superannuation, with the celebrity chef previously saying in a statement: “We went to Fair Work, we owned up and we paid.”
Fans are hoping the three former judges will make their return to television when the new season of I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! premieres on January 18, 2026.
