Melissa Leong has teased that she will lift the lid on her time on MasterChef Australia in an upcoming book release.
The food critic, 43, was a judge on the Channel 10 cooking competition for three years, but left last year amid a major shake-up at the host.
She has since joined spin-off show Dessert Masters as a judge and has been repeatedly hit by rumors that she could be preparing a return to MasterChef.
Now, Melissa has hinted that she will tell all about her time on MasterChef while teasing that she is working on a memoir about her life and career.
On her Instagram Stories on Friday, Melissa asked fans what they would like to read in the book, which generated a wide range of responses.
An enthusiastic fan asked her if she would include any ‘MasterChef behind-the-scenes stories’, to which Melissa replied yes.
Melissa Leong (pictured) has teased that she will lift the lid on her time on MasterChef Australia in an upcoming book release.
In an Instagram post, Melissa teased that she’ll be talking about “a bunch” of “behind-the-scenes” MasterChef stories in a memoir she’s currently working on.
“Oh, there are a lot, don’t worry,” he joked in a cryptic response.
He also revealed that he will discuss other aspects of his career, including his little-known passion for the UFC, while each chapter will also include a recipe.
However, Melissa urged fans to stop asking her about aspects of her life where she has ‘publicly drawn a line’ as she hinted that some things will be off-limits in the book.
‘Anything I’ve already publicly drawn a line on is out of line, so please don’t ask me. “That’s not really fair to me,” she shared in another post.
‘Thank you very much for all your questions. Other than that, it’s all there, but it helps me know what to focus on.”
Her exciting new project comes after Melissa was hit by rumors she could be preparing a return to MasterChef Australia.
Melissa left the show last year under a cloud of suspicion over an alleged dispute with her former co-host Andy Allen, who still serves as a judge.
“Melissa told Ten she will return to MasterChef Australia when Andy Allen leaves,” a TV insider recently told Daily Mail Australia.
The food critic, 43, was a judge on Channel 10’s cooking competition for three years, but left last year amid a major shake-up at the accommodation.
His exciting new project comes amid rumors he could be planning a return to MasterChef following allegations of a ‘feud’ with his former co-judge Andy Allen (both pictured).
“I think the idea of returning to what the show once was for her seems a little daunting and the only way Melissa would come back is if the entire format was revamped.”
Melissa surprised fans when she shared the news of her departure on Instagram a day before Network Ten’s 2024 Upfronts.
“The changing of the guard is something I always planned to accept, and I am very happy to do so today on my terms,” she wrote in a statement last October.
Melissa’s departure came after it was claimed she had been fired following a series of publicized off-camera drama.
In 2022, she infamously had a breakup with the show’s hair and makeup team along with a substitute freelance stylist.
“Andy has no problems with Leong,” the source told Daily Mail Australia. But she previously expressed that her former colleague wasted a lot of time doing her hair and makeup.
“He felt that his perfectionism compromised his control over what was filmed.”
Andy returned to the show this year alongside three new judges: media favorite Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Melbourne food critic Sofia Levin.
Melissa has since taken on a new role on MasterChef spin-off show Dessert Masters, as a co-judge alongside French-Swiss pastry chef Amaury Guichon.