MasterChef Australia series 16

MasterChef Australia
Season 16
Judges	Andy Allen Sofia Levin Jean-Christophe Novelli Poh Ling Yeow
No. of contestants	22
Release
Original network	Network Ten
Original release	22 April 2024 (2024-04-22)
Series chronology

The sixteenth series of the Australian television cooking show MasterChef Australia was announced in October 2023 and premiered on 22 April 2024 on Network Ten. Series 4 winner Andy Allen returned as judge since series 12, while Melissa Leong left the show to judge the second season of Dessert Masters. Food writer Sofia Levin, French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, and series 1 runner-up Poh Ling Yeow took over as judges, replacing Leong and Jock Zonfrillo.

Changes

• There are four judges instead of three.

• The number of contestants increased from 18 to 22. Like the previous two seasons, the audition stage was not broadcast.
• At the start of the competition, only one immunity pin is up for grabs.

Contestants

Top 22

The Top 22 was announced on 14 April 2024.

Contestant	Age	State	Occupation	Status
Sue Bazely	58	VIC	Customer manager	Competing
Harry Butterfield	29	QLD	Commercial property	Competing
Snezana Calic	40	VIC	Financial services	Competing
Darrsh Clarke	31	WA	Management consultant	Competing
Josh Clarke	27	QLD	Coffee roaster	Competing
Alex Crisp	27	WA	Sales representative	Competing
Lily Davies	30	NSW	Former nurse	Competing
Stephen Dennis	62	QLD	Tour guide	Competing
Gillian Dinh	31	NSW	Lettering artist	Competing
Steph Griffen	28	QLD	Events manager	Competing
James Holmes	38	WA	Primary school teacher	Competing
Jonathan Hooper	29	NSW	Carpenter	Competing
Lourdes Leschen	22	VIC	Marketing coordinator	Competing
Savindri Perera	30	SA	Banking consultant	Competing
Josh Perry	43	TAS	Butcher	Competing
Sumeet Saigal	46	NSW	Sales manager	Competing
David Tan	30	QLD	Pharmacologist	Competing
Nat Thaipun	28	VIC	Barista	Competing
Juan de la Cruz Torales Villareal	39	NSW	Board game designer	Competing
Khristian Walker	26	VIC	Insurance services	Competing
Lachlan Whittle	34	VIC	Landscape gardener	Competing
Mimi Wong	25	NSW	High school teacher	Competing

Guest chefs/judges

• Jamie Oliver (guest judge; first two weeks)

Elimination chart

No.	Week	1
	Mystery Box Challenge Winner	None
	Immunity Challenge
	Elimination Challenge Winner
	Sue	IN
	Harry	IN
	Snezana	IN
	Darrsh	IN
	Josh C.	IN
	Alex	IN
	Lily	IN
	Stephen	IN
	Gillian	IN
	Steph	IN
	James	IN
	Jonathan	IN
	Lourdes	IN
	Savindri	Top 2
	Josh P.	IN
	Sumeet	IN
	David	IN
	Nat	WIN	I.P
	Juan de la Cruz	IN
	Khristian	IN
	Lachlan	IN
	Mimi	IN
Eliminated		None

Episodes and ratings

Ep#/Wk-Ep#	Original airdate	Episode Title / Event	Viewers (National reach & total)[a]	Nightly Ranking
Week 1
1/01-1	Monday, 22 April 2024	Series Premiere: Identity Dish — Jamie Oliver, guest judge for 2 weeks, tasked the contestants to create a dish that represents them. The majority of the contestants receive positive feedback with Savindri & Nat were named the top 2. While Savindri's Sri Lankan breakfast (Blackened Coconut Snapper with milk rice, snapper sauce, raw onion sambal and Sri Lankan treacle) recieved universal praise it was Nat's Kangaroo Larb with soy cured egg yolk & toasted rice wafer that won the only immunity pin of the season and a trip to London to work at Jamie Oliver's latest restaurant for a week.	1,423,000 / 776,000	#6

• ^a From 28 January 2024, OzTAM ratings changed. Viewership data now focus on National Reach and National Total ratings instead of the 5 metro centres and overnight shares.