Who has left MasterChef Australia 2025?

Declan’s his name, and fish is his game! Fan favourite Declan Cleary has hung up his apron, just shy of the MasterChef Australia: Back to Win top ten, after a high-stakes challenge set by beloved cook Maggie Beer.

The Northern Beaches builder-turned-cook fell short when his dish was deemed “incomplete” by the judges, lacking a crucial sauce in a challenge that tested the contestants’ ability to balance ingredients with time. Despite the misstep, Declan bowed out with his trademark charm — and plenty of love from viewers.

Declan first captured hearts in Season 15, where he placed third, and returned this year more focused than ever on making food his full-time career.

In a heartfelt post after his elimination, Declan wrote:

“Walking through those MasterChef doors took exactly that 20 seconds of courage. I had no idea where it would lead, but I knew I’d regret not giving it a crack… This chapter may be closing, but what a ride it’s been.”

Fellow contestant, and also Declan’s romantic partner, Sarah Todd, also paid tribute, writing:

“Every single day in the MasterChef kitchen with you was filled with laughter, lightness, and joy… You’ll be so missed in that kitchen, by me, and by everyone watching along at home.”

With a dream of opening a farm-to-fork bistro in Northern NSW, Declan’s food journey is far from over. As he put it: “Be kind, work hard. Love, Dec.”

Theo Loizou was eliminated from MasterChef after a chaotic cook-along challenge with Curtis Stone that tested timing, instincts, and nerves. “My head was just all over the place. It was crazy,” Theo admitted of the high-pressure challenge. Despite battling ricotta woes and déjà vu from a previous elimination, he managed to plate up the dish and leave the competition with his head held high.

“I was pretty proud of myself… that cook doesn’t define me,” he said. “Coming back and getting to Top 12, I’m really proud of myself.”

For Theo, who previously returned to his job as an electrician after Season 15, this season was about more than just food—it was about taking the leap on a long-held dream. “It was make or break for me… there’s no ‘when is the right time?’ You just have to do it. And that’s what I’m doing.”

Now, he’s building his dream bakery from the ground up on his family farm, alongside his dad. “I just teared up because I was so happy everything’s coming together… It’s been so special.”

Read the full episode recap here.

Returning more than a decade after his original season, firefighter Beau Cook became a fan favourite for his calm presence and heartfelt approach to cooking. But in episode 32, the final day of Sweet Week, his reimagined take on the classic childhood spider didn’t quite hit the mark with the judges, leading to his elimination.

“I should have just made a spider,” Beau admitted of his cola granita dessert. “Something more playful and simple… I think that would’ve got me across the line.”

Despite his exit, Beau leaves with no regrets. “I had done enough, and it was okay to go. I had proven myself.”

He opened up about feeling like an outsider early in the season. “You kind of feel like an impostor… but I figured out that I actually can cook. I’m not an impostor.”

Now, he’s looking ahead to new ventures — supporting local producers and launching Wildpoint, an all-natural hard lemon drink. But as for a career in food?

“I love cooking for family and friends, but it’s not a career… to me, my reputation and integrity, I think I’ve maintained. That was the most important thing — coming across as genuine.”

Read the full episode recap here.

Twelve years after first stepping into the MasterChef Australia kitchen, Samira El Khafir returned, ready to show how far she’s come. The season five finalist, who placed third, left behind careers in hairdressing and telecommunications to fully pursue her passion for food. Since then, she’s carved out a diverse culinary path while raising her four children.

In the years since MasterChef, the self-taught cook inspired by her mother’s traditional Middle Eastern dishes, opened her own café, hosted intimate six-course Arabian Nights dinners, and launched a nationwide low-carb food range, Eat With Love, also the title of her 2014 cookbook. More recently, she’s turned her focus to recipe development and consulting with food brands.

Unfortunately, her second time round in the kitchen ended in episode 28. In the episode, she, along with eight other contestants, had to take part in a taste test and guess what ingredients were included in a laksa bowl made by Malaysian chef Junda Khoo. However, she guessed incorrectly and ended up in the second round, where she and three other cooks had to create a flavour-packed dish using the 40 (!) ingredients from the laksa. Samira decided to make an Egyptian-inspired dish using the Malaysian ingredients, but her chicken was too lean, and the texture threw off the dish. However, the judges commended the idea and her use of flavours.

“No, this is good, it’s my husband’s birthday today,” Samira said after her elimination. “This will honestly make his night knowing I’m back to cook for him.” 

“I’ve learned just to keep going, don’t stop, don’t quit at anything. And the world is massive and there’s just so much we can do.”

Read the full episode recap here.

Darrsh returned to the MasterChef kitchen to compete in back-to-back seasons. Unfortunately, his second time around was not the sweet dessert he was hoping for. In episode 24 of the season, with Andy Cooks as a guest judge, the contestants were tasked with creating an oozey, gooey, cheese pull dish in round one and then a dish with the “perfect slice” in round two.

Darrsh attempted to do something creative in round one, opting to use blue cheese (not a melting, oozing cheese). He did manage to create a nice roux sauce, but it didn’t hit the brief or impress the judges. And then in round two, disaster struck. Darrsh decided to go back to his roots and use his old faithful recipe for choux pastry. However, it appeared that the eggs were bigger than normal because the mixture was not right. Then, it was a tad overcooked.

So the man who created some of MasterChef‘s most iconic choux pastry desserts was sent home on a choux pastry dish.

Following season 16, Darrsh moved from Perth to Melbourne to fully immerse himself in the food scene. He is actually roommates with last season’s MasterChef winner, Nat Thaipun and fellow contestant David Tan.

In fact, Darrsh mentioned that he and David plan to open a cookie business in Melbourne.

“I’m definitely going to use this experience to change my life going forward,” he said on his elimination. “My housemate Dave and I want to open a cookie business. We think that Melbourne doesn’t have great cookies, so I’m really excited.”

Read the full episode recap here.

Unfortunately, in episode 20 of MasterChef: Back to Win, everyone’s favourite toastie maker, Tim Bone, ended on the bottom. After finishing fourth the last time around, Tim was determined to come back to at least get a podium spot, but alas, it was not to be.

Since his last time on the show, the Ballarat man started his own business, Tim’s Toasties, and throughout this season, he has sandwiched (pardon the pun) some delicious toasties into his dishes.

After his elimination, he took to Instagram to make a statement:

And that’s a wrap! My journey on [MasterChef]: Back to Win has come to an end. Not the ending I dreamed of, but what an unforgettable ride it’s been.

I’m so incredibly grateful for the love and support I’ve received, especially from my beautiful hometown of Ballarat. You’ve cheered me on every step of the way and I’ve felt it all.

To the judges, my fellow contestants, the crew, and everyone behind the scenes, thank you for letting me live out this crazy dream one more time.

As for what’s next… I think I’ll stick to what I do best — making toasties ??

This might be goodbye from the MasterChef kitchen, but it’s all systems go for [Tim’s Toasties]! See you all soon!

Instagram

Read the full episode recap here.

Rue Mupedzi, a dental hygienist turned aspiring chef, made her return to MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, determined to push past the self-doubt that held her back in Season 15. After placing seventh in the 2023 competition — where her signature BBQ sauce, “BarbeRue,” became a nationwide hit and was even stocked in Coles supermarkets — Rue came back with a clear vision: to leave her dental career behind and pursue her culinary passion full-time.

Her bubbly personality, calm presence and sweet tooth made her a standout once again, but unfortunately, she was eliminated on May 27 after a pressure test challenge set by Blayne Bertoncello from O.MY. The challenge was to recreate his dessert dish, something which Rue should have easily accomplished — “Desserts are my vibe,” she said in the episode — but numerous things went wrong during the pressure test, and the judges sent Rue home.

Her fellow contestant Laura, had some sweet things to say on the show about Rue on her elimination:

 “She doubts herself a lot, but I don’t think she has to because she’s so incredible at what she does, and she should walk out with her head held very very high,” Laura says.

“I am very proud of myself for even putting myself up for a second time,” Rue said on the show. “I have learned I am talented and I am skilled and I’m hoping I’ve left my mark here. Hopefully, one day, everyone will be coming to Rue’s dessert bar.”

Since her first MasterChef stint, Rue has thrown herself into the food world. She plans to open a champagne and dessert bar and to take her passion to Paris to study pastry at the next level.

After the episode aired, Rue took to Instagram to write:

What a beautifully short-lived rollercoaster this journey has been.

Coming back this time, I walked in with more confidence in my abilities than before. But the MasterChef kitchen has a way of humbling you, of reminding you that growth doesn’t mean the absence of self-doubt, only the courage to keep going in spite of it.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken away is this: don’t wait. Sometimes we hold back, thinking we have more time to show our best. But later doesn’t always come. And so whether in a kitchen or in life I’m learning to lead with my best, now.

I’m incredibly grateful for a second chance, the friendships forged, and the deeper self-awareness this journey gifted me.

Read the full episode recap here.

Rhiannon won hearts and minds on her last turn in the MasterChef Kitchen in season 15, where she placed second. The former water-skiing champion from Townsville is a mum of five and a grandmother of six, and is well-used to working under pressure and cooking for a big brood!

Unfortunately, in episode 16 of MasterChef: Back to Win, Rhiannon’s MasterChef journey 2.0 came to an end. Rhiannon faced a “Surf and Turf” challenge set by guest chef Josh Niland, and was initially positive about her chances, but that didn’t last long.

Rhiannon’s dish, an Asian beef broth with lobster wontons, reflected her signature bold, punchy flavours and rustic style. However, the judges felt it lacked the creative spark needed to stand out. Not one to back down, Rhiannon quickly reworked the dish, kneading lobster meat into the wonton dough itself to amplify the flavours and bring something new to the table.

Despite her gumption, Andy said that her dish had “fallen short,”. Josh commended the broth, but the wontons are “compromised” and it didn’t really hit the brief of “surf and turf”.

Since her last appearance on the show, she launched her business, Rhiplenish, sharing her love of cooking through workshops, demos, and masterclasses, while also serving as a proud national ambassador for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation — a cause close to her heart after losing her mother to ovarian cancer.

“What a bloody epic experience!” Rhiannon said on her elimination. “This is just so cool. Like, how many people get to come back to win? I’ve had an absolute blast, like a crazy good time.”

In an Instagram post after the episode aired, Rhiannon wrote: “What a wild ride the MasterChef journey is! Top 2 in my season, then 18th in back to win! My motto this season was to just come and have fun and that I did!”

Her close friend on the show, Declan, was visibly emotional at her elimination

“I love Rhi to bits…she wears her head so high on her shoulders and she’s been such an influential woman in my life since meeting her on the show,” he said as he held back tears. “So, I’m going to miss her to bits.”

“I’m super proud of myself, honestly, I am so happy. Like, there are so many people that would dream to get asked to come back. So, yeah, I’m stoked,” she said on the show.

Read the full episode recap here.

Unfortunately, in episode 14 of MasterChef: Back to Win, Jimmy found himself in his first pressure test of the season. Nine years after his last pressure test in the MasterChef kitchen. Unfortunately, the pressure got to him and his balloon puppy cake – a challenge set by renowned pastry chef Steven He- did not stack up against his competition. 

On his last stint on MasterChef Australia, he competed alongside his sister Theresa, the first time we had a sibling rivalry on the show. 

Following his time on MasterChef, he dove headfirst into the food industry and started working as a food photographer and content creator in Sydney. 

“I’m gutted,” says Jimmy on his elimination. “But what an absolute privilege it has been to be a part of this amazing experience.”

“I will not be stopping. I will continue to fight for the things that I love.”

Audra, a friend and fellow contestant on the season, was in tears at the news and gave him a ringing endorsement: “I fell in love with him the moment I met him. He’s just such a generous spirit. He’s always smiling, such a wonderful cook and he’s got such natural instincts, and everything comes from his heart. I think he’s incredible.”

“I may not have won, but I am so glad that I came back,” Jimmy said. “This experience is irreplaceable.”

“I have a renewed vigour for being a cook, being a food photographer, I am super proud of myself.”

Read the full episode recap here.

Matt was the fifth person to leave MasterChef Australia: Back to Win. The former dentist failed to bring some “tableside theatrics” as required in the episode 12 elimination round.

After his last time on the show, Matt went on to host some pop-up dining events. He also continued working on his cooking skills alongside his dentistry work.

A former CEO of the Australian Dental Association (Victoria), Matt is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne’s Dental School. He also served in the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps for seven years before working as a dentist. He has a PhD and a Master’s degree in community dentistry.

Passionate about oral health, he co-founded SugarFree Smiles to advocate for reduced sugar consumption. Matt also focuses on mental health in dentistry and has published a cookbook, Food to Feed the Family, combining his love of food and family wellbeing.

“I loved it even more the second time around,” says Matt on his departure. “It’s liberating coming back.”

“I’m sad to be going home, but it’s been an amazing experience… As a dentist, I’m going to be leaving with a smile!”

Read the full episode recap here.

Unfortunately, Steph’s second time around in the MasterChef kitchen ended in episode 8. She ended up in an elimination cook after her team lost the notorious “One Inch Cube Taste Test”. Jamie was their team taster, and he missed strawberries!

Steph opted to cook a pork belly with belachan (a punchy fermented prawn paste) caramel sauce and coleslaw with celeriac, fennel and green apple. 

However, her dish didn’t quite hit the mark. While Jean-Christophe praised the sauce’s texture, Andy noted that the belachan overpowered the caramel. More critically, Steph had chosen a particularly fatty cut of pork belly — something Jean-Christophe couldn’t overlook.

Back in episode 4, Steph shared that three years ago, she quit her job as a chef to care for her sister, who was dying. This was why she started creating content online. Now, she has an online empire which she credits to her sister, her now “Guardian Angel”, for all of its successes. 

Since her first appearance on the show, Steph’s life has completely transformed. Steph left her human resources job and dove head-first into the food world. She launched her website, Easy Recipe Gang, and began producing colourful, accessible cooking content for her ever-growing online community. Steph also worked as a chef in a Modern Australian restaurant and ran her own catering company before focusing full-time on content creation.

Her bestselling debut cookbook, Air Fryer Queen, was followed in 2025 by Easy Dinner Queen, and she now hosts her TV show, Frugal Foodie, bringing her joyful, practical recipes to life on screen.

Read more about her here.

Sav unfortunately fell victim to another pressure test, this time set by Kirsten Tibballs, the chocolate queen. It spelled the end of her time on MasterChef: Back to Win.

This season, Sav returned not to prove anything to anyone else, but for herself. With more confidence, technical finesse and a desire to experiment, she embraced her second chance with heart and grit.

While the pressure test dish didn’t land (read the full recap here), Sav’s passion for food — and her refusal to give up — has cemented her as a fan favourite. One thing’s clear: this may be the end of her MasterChef run, but it’s far from the end of Sav’s food story.

In a post to her Instagram page following her elimination, Sav wrote:

“Today I conducted myself & walked away in a way that would make my parents and my loved ones proud. My mum was not a quitter, neither am I, and I am so very proud of myself. I spent a lot of time last year afraid of taking pride in my successes — and maybe this is who I’ve become after MasterChef: a person unafraid to be proud of herself. A person who firmly knows her life’s work is in food.

I walk away as a version of Sav that’s shown up authentically and unapologetically, that has honoured her mother & her culture again & again, a version of Sav that has made new friends and isn’t so burdened by grief.”

Everyone’s favourite fluent speaker of “Strayan” has left the MasterChef kitchen. Read our interview about her experience on the show here.

In the first elimination episode of the season, Cath unfortunately burned the important element of her dish. Resulting in the judges bidding her farewell.

The elimination challenge was to cook a dish that represents who they are now. Cath decided to demonstrate how much she has grown and so tackled a Japanese dish “with a Cath twist”. She used the hibachi grill to cook her delicate mushrooms, wanting to achieve some charring. However, unfortunately, many pieces were burned, and that burnt flavour overpowered the entire dish.

After the episode aired, Cath took to Instagram to share an emotive statement:

“Devastated that I have gone out on a dish that I love…cooking at home is so much easier with a glass of wine in my hand. Proud that I was brave and went back to MasterChef knowing how hard it was going to be. Grateful for meeting the MasterChef legends that I now call family…good luck everyone, I can’t wait to see what you do. I’m even more grateful for my beautiful family and friends. Thank you, darling Brad, Alex, Abby & Ted.”

She reminded her followers to cook with joy and “Remember to give yourself a hug.”

Read our full episode recap here.

Pete lost out on winning season 13 of MasterChef Australia by a measly one point. However, it wasn’t the end of his cooking career. The former tattoo artist dove headfirst into the industry and has since worked at some top spots around Sydney, including Peter Gilmore’s Quay restaurant and top Surry Hills eatery, Poly.

Backed by his wife Alana and daughters Scout, 12, and Lux, 9, Pete returned to the MasterChef kitchen for his second chance at the title. Alas, it was not to be.

In episode 3 of the season, Andy Allen announced that Pete was leaving for “personal reasons”. Pete had shared on his social media accounts back in January that he was undergoing cancer treatment, so we assumed it was related to that.

Pete confirmed this with a post on Instagram following that episode. In the caption,he wrote: “Didn’t even get to cook for the judges! but you know what they say… “if you have cancer you should go get chemo” A massive thank you to everyone messaging and checking in, you’re all so nice X”

Furthermore, Pete did an exclusive interview with Woman’s Day where he shared what was happening behind the scenes:

“The diagnosis was a complete shock”, he said in the interview. “I asked (kinda begged) the doctor if I could start treatment after the competition.

“She told me I’d possibly die, and that’s when the severity of the situation really hit me and replaced the disappointment. From there, I just wanted to start treatment as soon as possible and get better for my family.”

So Pete is focusing on his health and his family. But if the opportunity arises, he will definitely be back in the kitchen.

“This time around ended for me before it even began, so I certainly feel like I have unfinished business in the MasterChef kitchen. If I’m lucky enough to get the opportunity again, I’ll take it.”

Read the full interview here.

On 26 June 2025, Pete confirmed that he was officially cancer-free! No doubt he will be back in the kitchen at Poly, cooking up a storm soon, and hopefully we will see him on a future season of MasterChef.

In his post on Instagram, he wrote: “CANCER FREE, GNARLY Thank you for all the messages and check ins, sorry if I didn’t write back, I had cancer.”

Read our full episode recap here.