Viewers have taken to social media to make a big request ahead of the season 17 premiere.

MasterChef fans have called for a huge change in the upcoming season of the reality show. Photos: Channel 10

There have been a handful of changes made to MasterChef Australia since the reality show first premiered in 2009. Not only has the iconic theme song been dropped and the judging panel has evolved, but viewers have noticed the format has also been modified in recent years.

Since season 15 in 2023, the series no longer features MasterClass episodes where celebrity chefs come into the kitchen and prepare a dish to help educate the contestants. MasterClasses had been a staple of the cooking competition since season one, along with classic challenges like Mystery Boxes and Pressure Tests.

Season 15 runner-up Rhiannon Anderson, who is set to return to the competition this year, told Yahoo Lifestyle after her finale that she found it “quite bizarre” that the show’s producers decided to scrap such an iconic element of the show.

“I would have loved a MasterClass,” she shared. “I guess because it was a quicker season, it was just one of those things that was like, we’ve just got to get through it. It would have been good, but you know what, you get the mentoring throughout the season as it is.”

Season 15 runner-up Rhiannon Anderson says she would’ve loved to have done a MasterClass on the show. Photo: Channel 10

Should the MasterClasses return in 2025?

Ahead of the show’s upcoming seventeenth season, many fans have taken to social media to request that MasterClasses return to the competition in 2025.

“I enjoyed them, just throw in a few. In a 60-episode season, it adds some variety,” one person wrote on Reddit, while another added, “I absolutely loved them. It elevates the show distinctly from the US version, among other things. It validates the focus on the food and the techniques”.

“I picked up a few important pieces of information. I appreciate the ones that home cooks can do, like Gary’s Chilli Sauces in season 5. Or cooking tips for steak from Heston [Blumenthal] and MPW (Marco Pierre White),” someone else shared.

“It does provide a good look at how the contestants learn while they are there, so it goes well with the goal of really finding the MasterChef for that year. I find it wonderful when a contestant would refer to the MasterClasses they took in creating a dish,” a different user replied.

MasterChef contestant shares why MasterClasses ‘add value’ to the show

It’s not just viewers who have called for the MasterClass episodes to be included in the upcoming season, with 2024 contestant Juan de la Cruz Torales Villarreal telling Yahoo Lifestyle he would “love to see them make a comeback”.

“They really capture the heart of what MasterChef is all about: learning, growing, and sharing the love for food!” he says.

“I definitely think the MasterClasses added a lot of value to the show. As a contestant, I would have loved to get the chance to learn directly from the judges and guest chefs. It would’ve been incredible to expand our repertoire and not just for us in the kitchen, but for viewers at home too. They were such a great way to share skills, tips, and inspiration with aspiring cooks around the country.”

Juan de la Cruz Torales Villarreal believes MasterClasses ‘added a lot of value to the show’. Photo: Channel 10

Great idea or waste of time?

Not everyone is a fan of the idea, however, with some social media users arguing that the episodes were a “waste of time”.

“Personally, I’m not a huge fan of those episodes,” one viewer commented, followed by someone else who replied, “They were good but in limited quantities. Not every week”.

“I always skipped them. They use ingredients I can’t afford and have equipment I’ll never own. A waste of time,” another agreed.