Sydney — The knives are out in the MasterChef Australia kitchen, but this time, it’s the fans wielding them. As the 2025 season looms, a growing chorus of viewers is calling for a major shake-up in how the show scores its contestants, slamming the current system as “really harsh” and overly punishing. The outcry, rooted in official fan feedback channels and reported by major outlets, has sparked a fiery debate about fairness in one of Australia’s most beloved TV competitions.
The issue centers on the show’s hyper-critical judging, where contestants’ dishes are dissected with surgical precision. Fans argue the scoring—often docking points for tiny flaws like a slightly underseasoned sauce or a wobbly presentation—feels relentless, especially for amateur cooks under intense pressure. A petition launched on April 16 through the official MasterChef Australia website, reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, gathered over 8,000 signatures in just two weeks. It demands a “more balanced” scoring system that rewards creativity and effort alongside technical perfection.
“It’s brutal out there,” one fan wrote in the petition’s comment section, a sentiment echoed across official feedback forums. “These are home cooks, not Michelin-star chefs. The judges need to cut them some slack.” Another pointed out that early episodes, where contestants are still finding their footing, often see crushing critiques that “suck the joy out of the show.” The petition specifically calls for a sliding scale in scoring—gentler in the opening rounds, ramping up as the competition progresses.
Network Ten, which airs MasterChef Australia, acknowledged the feedback in a statement on April 20, published by news.com.au. “We hear our fans loud and clear,” the statement read. “While no changes are confirmed for 2025, we’re always looking at ways to keep the show fresh and fair.” The network noted that judges Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, Jean-Christophe Novelli, and Poh Ling Yeow are trained to balance constructive criticism with encouragement, but fans argue the scales tip too far toward nitpicking.
This isn’t the first time MasterChef Australia has faced calls for change. In 2020, the show revamped its format after viewers complained about overly complex challenges, a shift reported by The Guardian. But the current scoring controversy feels different—more raw, more urgent. Fans point to moments like last season’s infamous “soggy pastry” critique, where a contestant’s dessert was torn apart for a single misstep, as emblematic of a system that punishes more than it inspires.
The 2025 season, set to begin filming in June, is already under a microscope. Network Ten confirmed on April 22, via an announcement on its website, that auditions are underway, with thousands of hopefuls vying for a spot. Yet the fan petition suggests that without a scoring overhaul, the show risks alienating its core audience. Some have even floated a hybrid model, blending fan votes with judges’ scores, though no official proposals have surfaced.
For now, the kitchen remains a pressure cooker. Fans are watching, waiting, and hoping their voices will shape a fairer MasterChef Australia in 2025. The petition remains open for signatures, and Network Ten has promised further updates before the season premiere.