MasterChef Australia fans have criticized a judge’s controversial edit from this year’s series, just weeks before the anticipated final.
Viewers flocked to Reddit on Friday to express their dismay that French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli didn’t receive as much screen time as his co-hosts.
Joining the judging panel this year alongside Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin, Jean-Christophe, 63, has quickly become a fan favorite of the show.
But one disgruntled fan commented: “I personally love him but I feel like both the contestants and the judges don’t pay much attention to him.”
‘They don’t really include him in the contestants’ discussions, they don’t even look in his direction while they talk.
‘I laugh a little every time he talks out loud, I laugh embarrassingly every time he praises or slams the table.
“Poh gets all the attention and is part of everything. Even when he praises the contestants, they don’t take him seriously.”
The viewer went on to say that Jean-Christophe is very “sweet” and tries to “be as helpful as possible, but no one really cares.”
MasterChef Australia fans have criticized a judge’s controversial edit from this year’s series, just weeks before the long-awaited final. Pictured, left to right: Andy Allen, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin
Other users expressed their agreement, with many praising the restaurant owner for his uplifting and positive personality on the Channel 10 cooking competition.
“She’s totally our favorite judge. A total breath of fresh air,” one person said.
Another added: “He’s so crazy I love it.” Banging the table, screaming with joy at the restaurant service challenge. Putting the crab in Harry’s hands.
Viewers flocked to Reddit on Friday to express their dismay that French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, 63 (pictured), didn’t receive as much screen time as his co-hosts.
Less Andy saying, “That’s a hit” and “That’s full of flavor” and more JC! He is a very encouraging, honest and fun person,” a third commented.
One user said Jean-Christophe’s cutscenes may have less to do with how the other judges and contestants feel about him and more to do with the producers.
They said: ‘For some reason, the producers/editors are minimizing JC’s screen time, i.e. Sue’s editing. So they show less JC interactions with everyone.’
One disgruntled fan commented: “I personally love him, but I feel like both the contestants and the judges don’t pay much attention to him.”
The 2024 season is still ongoing, but Network 10 has already confirmed that Jean-Christophe will return in 2025 alongside Andy, Poh and Sofia.
The panel of four made their debut on season 16 this year after Andy, 36, was the only judge to return to the show since last year’s panel.
Melissa Leong was written out of the series and Jock Zonfrillo tragically died in April last year, just one day before season 15 aired.
Andy, who joined the panel in 2020, admitted he was unsure about returning after Jock’s devastating loss but decided his friend would have wanted it.
