MasterChef Australia series 10
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Reality cooking competition |
| Founded | May 7, 2018 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Matt Preston (judges), Shannon Bennett (mentor) |
| Products | Cooking competition television program |
| Website | 10play |
The tenth installment of the Australian culinary contest MasterChef Australia debuted on 7 May 2018, broadcast by Network Ten. Returning judges included Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, and Matt Preston, while Shannon Bennett took on the role of mentor.
This season concluded with Sashi Cheliah emerging victorious, overcoming Ben Borsht in the final showdown held on 31 July 2018.
Format Adjustments
A notable modification was introduced this season: the winner of the Mystery Box Challenge earned direct entry into the Immunity Challenge, skipping both the Invention Test and Pressure Test, thereby guaranteeing their safety for the next day’s competition.
During Week 10, contestants vied for a unique "10-Year Superpower" apron, which allowed its holder to opt out at any phase of individual challenges up until tasting. This apron combined elements reminiscent of immunity pins and Power Aprons.
Top 24
The Top 24 competitors were revealed across 7–8 May 2018. Among them, Jo Kendray secured her spot after two previous attempts.
| Contestant | Age | State | Profession | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sashi Cheliah | 40 | SA | Prison officer | Winner 31 July |
| Ben Borsht | 31 | QLD | Builder | Runner-up 31 July |
| Khanh Ong | 25 | VIC | DJ | Eliminated 30 July |
| Jess Liemantara | 19 | VIC | Waitress | Eliminated 29 July |
| Chloe Carroll | 28 | QLD | Nutritionist | Eliminated 23 July |
Subsequent Appearances
- Khanh Ong, Jess Liemantara, Reece Hignell, Brendan Pang, and Sarah Clare returned for Series 12, with eliminations occurring between May and July 2020.
- Aldo Ortado and Sashi Cheliah rejoined the competition in Series 14, finishing in eighth and nineteenth place respectively during mid-2022.
- Sashi took on a guest team captain role in Series 15.
- Jess Liemantara achieved third place in the spin-off series Dessert Masters in November 2023.
- In MasterChef Australia series 16, Sashi, Khanh, Jess, Reece, Aldo, and Genene Dwyer appeared as guest participants.
- Reece Hignell competed in the second season of Dessert Masters, concluding in fifth place in November 2024.
Guest Chefs
| Week | Guest Chef(s) | Challenge Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julie Goodwin, Adam Liaw, Kate Bracks, Andy Allen, Emma Dean, Brent Owens, Billie McKay, Elena Duggan, Diana Chan | Auditions Part One |
| 2 | Maggie Beer | Pressure Test |
| Shui Ishizaka | Immunity Challenge | |
| Nathan Jones | Team Challenge | |
| 3 (Nigella Week) |
Nigella Lawson | All Challenges & MasterClass Sessions |
| Alanna Sapwell | Immunity Challenge | |
| 4 (Gordon Ramsay Week) |
Gordon Ramsay | All Challenges Except Elimination Round |
| Jo Barrett, Gavin Hughes, John Rivera | Immunity Challenge | |
| Matt Abé | Elimination Challenge | |
| 5 | Darren Purchese | Pressure Test |
| Jacqui Challinor | Immunity Challenge | |
| Robin Wickens, Dave Sutherland | Team Challenge | |
| Curtis Stone | Elimination Challenge | |
| 6 (South Australia Week) |
Brendan Wessels | Pressure Test |
| Jin Choi | Immunity Challenge | |
| Maggie Beer | Elimination Challenge | |
| Poh Ling Yeow, Callum Hann | MasterClass Sessions | |
| 7 | Alla Wolf-Tasker | Pressure Test |
| Andy Harmer | Immunity Challenge | |
| Lennox Hastie | Team Challenge | |
| 8 (Sweet Week) |
Adriano Zumbo | Mystery Box & Invention Test |
| Katherine Sabbath | Pressure Test | |
| Alice Wright | Immunity Challenge | |
| Adam D’Sylva | Team Challenge | |
| Kirsten Tibballs | Elimination Challenge | |
| 9 (Royal Week) |
Saransh Goila | Pressure Test |
| Ashley Davis | Immunity Challenge | |
| 10 (Superpower Week) |
Peter Gilmore | Elimination Challenge & MasterClass |
| 11 | Joe Grbac | Pressure Test |
| Reynold Poernomo, Matt Sinclair | Immunity Challenge | |
| Curtis Stone | MasterClass | |
| 12 | Ashley Palmer-Watts | Pressure Test |
| Monty Koludrovic | Service Challenge | |
| Danielle Alvarez, Lennox Hastie, Ross Lusted, Jock Zonfrillo | Elimination Challenge | |
| Finals | Heston Blumenthal | Grand Finale |
Elimination chart
Sashi| -- Contestants -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
style="background:#fbf373;"|'Top 24' |
IN |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
IN |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'Top 4' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'Top 4' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'Top 3' |
style="background:#de6fa1;"|'Bottom 4/Immune' |
IN |
style="background:#de6fa1;"|'Team Lost 1/Immune' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'Advanced' |
style="background:limegreen;"CHAMPION |- !2 !style="background:lightblue;"| Ben |
style="background:#fbf373;"|'Top 24' |
IN |
IN |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'Top 3' |
IN |
IN |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
IN |
style="background:#FFCBA4;"|'Bottom 7' |
style="background:#FFCBA4;"|'Bottom 3' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
style="background:#d1e8ef;"|'Runner-up' |- !3 !style="background:lightblue;" | Khanh |
style="background:#fbf373;"|'Top 24' |
IN |
IN |
IN |
IN |
IN |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
style="background:#de6fa1;"|'Team Lost/Immune' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'Top 3' |
IN |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
style="background:#FFCBA4;"|'Bottom 7' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
style="background:#FFCBA4;"|'Bottom 5' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'WIN' |
style="background:lightgreen;"|'Advanced' |
style="background:#fbf373;"|'3rd Place' |
Episodes and ratings
- Colour key:
- – Peak viewership during the season
- – Lowest audience figures throughout the series
| Ep#/ Wk-Ep# |
Original airdate | Episode title/event | Total viewers (five metro cities) |
Nightly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ||||
| 1/01-1 | Monday, 7 May 2018 | Series Launch: Auditions Part 1 – Nine previous champions motivated hopefuls to present their signature dishes aiming for a Top 24 spot. Eighteen home cooks earned places by securing three judges' approvals; nine others were given another opportunity. | 890,000 | #7 |
| 2/01-2 | Tuesday, 8 May 2018 | Auditions Part 2 – Guided by mentor Shannon Bennett, contestants prepared dishes using selected ingredients to claim Top 24 positions. Five advanced immediately; Michelle clinched the final spot with a chocolate lava cake. | 845,000 | #5 |
| 3/01-3 | Wednesday, 9 May 2018 | Hospitality Cooking Challenge – The Top 24 crafted dishes centered on hospitality themes. Aldo, Loki, Chloe, and Gina performed notably; Genene, Brett, and Jess faced elimination pressure. | 910,000 | #5 |
| 4/01-4 | Thursday, 10 May 2018 | Home Fridge Elimination Challenge – Brett was eliminated after preparing a meal using ingredients from his personal fridge and pantry. | 835,000 | #5 |
| Week 2 | ||||
| 5/02-1 | Sunday, 13 May 2018 | Eclectic Box Challenge & Precipitation Invention Test – Sashi triumphed in the Mystery Box challenge securing immunity. Chloe, Kristen, and Tim joined him following the Invention Test. Samira, Sarah, Metter, and Michelle faced the Pressure Test. | 723,000 | #6 |
| 6/02-2 | Monday, 14 May 2018 | Pressure Test: Maggie Beer's Apple and Rosemary Tarte Tatin – Metter was eliminated after failing to perfectly recreate Maggie Beer’s signature dish within two and a half hours. | 820,000 | #7 |
| 7/02-3 | Tuesday, 15 May 2018 | Immunity Challenge: Shui Ishizaka – Chloe won the initial round but narrowly lost to professional chef Shui Ishizaka in the immunity showdown. | 804,000 | #6 |
| 8/02-4 | Wednesday, 16 May 2018 | Melbourne Cricket Ground Team Challenge – Teams prepared three-course meals for Melbourne Football Club players. The Blue team delivered an outstanding performance; the Red team encountered difficulties with dessert presentation. | 762,000 | #7 |
| 9/02-5 | Thursday, 17 May 2018 | First Food Memory Elimination Challenge – Denise was sent home following inconsistencies in her pig's trotter salad preparation. | 792,000 | #5 |
| Week 3 – Nigella Week | ||||
| 10/03-1 | Sunday,20 May2018 | Nigella's Mystery Box Challenge & Food Physics Invention Test – Kristen won the Mystery Box challenge and earned immunity. Ben, Loki, and Hoda excelled in the Invention Test. Adele was placed in elimination alongside Jenny and Chloe. | 811,000 | #4 |
| 11/03-2 | Monday,21 May2018 | Pressure Test: Nigella's Chocolate Feast – Adele was eliminated after failing to replicate four chocolate desserts within the allotted time frame. | 805,000 | #6 |
| 12/03-3 | Tuesday,22 May2018 | Immunity Challenge: Alanna Sapwell – Loki secured immunity by impressing head chef Alanna Sapwell with his Kingfish dish over her squid preparation. | 877,000 | #5 |
| 13/03-4 | Wednesday,23 May2018 | Brunch Cafe Service Challenge – Contestants managed brunch service at two cafes. Despite injury challenges for Red team member Brendan, their dishes outperformed Blue team's dessert errors which led Blue team to elimination. | 813,000 | #5 |
| 14/03-5 | Thursday,24 May2018 | Trifle Tasting Elimination Challenge – Contestants identified ingredients in Nigella’s trifle then created dishes incorporating all components. Tim was eliminated due to technical mistakes in his bombe Alaska dessert. | 781,000 | #5 |
| MasterClass: Nigella Lawson and judges showcased signature recipes including Middle Eastern beef fatteh and ginger walnut carrot cake. | 558,000 | #9 | ||
| Week4 – Gordon Ramsay Week | ||||
| 15/04-1 | Sunday,27 May2018 | Gordon's British Box Challenge & Fast Food Invention Test – Gordon Ramsay appeared as guest judge for the first time. Sashi won the British Box challenge; Reece and Samira excelled in burger-themed Invention Test; Ben was among those sent to elimination. | 903,000 | #3 |
| 16/04-2 | Monday,28 May2018 | Pressure Test: Raviolo of Marron – Michelle was eliminated after errors in recreating Gordon Ramsay’s marron raviolo dish. | 895,000 | #5 |
| 17/04-3 | Tuesday,29 May2018 | Immunity Challenge: Jo Barrett et al. – Reece and Sashi earned immunity pins competing against guest chefs under Gordon's mentorship; Samira narrowly missed out despite strong efforts. | 881,000 | #6 |
| 18/04-4 | Wednesday,30 May2018 | Three-Course Dinner Service Challenge – Teams served fifty diners under Gordon’s supervision; Blue team’s flawed salmon dish resulted in their placement in elimination round. | 863,000 | #6 |
| 19/04-5 | Thursday,31 May2018 | Pressure Test: Matt Abé's Roast Chicken – Loki was eliminated after overcooking chicken and presenting unbalanced sides despite previously holding an unused immunity pin. | 845,000 | #5 |
| Week5 | ||||
| 20/05-1 | Sunday,3 June2018 | "20" Box Challenge & Team Relay Invention Test – Sarah won the Mystery Box; teamwork complications led Green team directly into elimination. | 781,000 | #6 |
| 21/05-2 | Monday,4 June2018 | Pressure Test: Darren Purchese's Peach Melba – Jo was eliminated after mistakes replicating Purchese’s dessert despite strong performances from Brendan and Jenny. | 850,000 | #6 |
| 22/05-3 | Tuesday,5 June2018
|'Immunity Challenge: Jacqui Challinor' – Jess narrowly lost to Jacqui Challinor in immunity cook-off after winning initial round with chicken wings dish. 852,000 #6 | |||
| Grand Finale Week | ||||