Poh Ling Yeow on the emotional process of filming MasterChef as a judge

"I'm holding back tears every single episode because there's something about that kitchen that will never fail to affect me."

As Poh Ling Yeow appears on MasterChef Australia this year as a judge instead of a contestant, one thing remains the same – the abundance of emotion that the kitchen evokes for those who are lucky enough to enter it. 

Speaking to Missing Perspectives, Yeow says viewers can expect to see her a tad teary at some point throughout the competition. After all, food has the ability to foster connection, a sense of self and personal storytelling. Plus, Yeow has a beautiful history with the show, after finishing as runner-up to Julie Goodwin in Season 1 in 2009. 

“I’m holding back tears every single episode because there’s something about that kitchen that will never fail to affect me,” says Yeow. “It gave me so much in the way of self esteem and putting me on the map that has carved out this whole other career trajectory aside from my art.”

She says tasting and judging the food is an equally touching experience, where she lets her taste buds be transported to the story that is told behind the flavours and ingredients.

“My process is very emotional,” she explains. “My reaction to food is definitely emotional first and then technical.

“And just the electricity of watching people go into a challenge feeling petrified and then pulling off something they never thought possible is a feeling that that we cannot replicate anywhere else in your life and ever again,” she adds. 

Having competed on the show herself, first in 2009 and then in the all-stars Back To Win season in 2020, Yeow treasures the connection she has with the contestants, that some of the other judges wouldn’t have. 

“I feel so lucky that this is my first season as a judge because it’s been such a gentle entry into this new position. I’ve felt the contestants have had empathy for me as well. I really felt that exchange and I think also because I’ve been in their shoes, I do feel that a lot more,” she says.  

Yeow joins the show alongside fellow first-time MasterChef Australia judges, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli, as well as 2012 winner Andy Allen who’s been a judge since 2020. The new panel comes after previous judge Jock Zonfrillo’s death last year, and Melissa Leong’s departure to focus on the MasterChef: Dessert Masters spin-off and other creative projects. 

MasterChef Australia 2024 judges Sofia Levin, Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli

MasterChef Australia 2024 judges Sofia Levin, Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow and Jean-Christophe Novelli. Photo: Channel 10

In addition to the regular judging panel, every season features a lineup of well-known celebrity chefs who either do cooking demonstrations, set creative challenges or appear as guest judges.This year’s guest judges include Anna Polyviou, Jamie Oliver, Mikiko Terasaki and Vincent Yeow Lim (AKA DimSimLim). 

In 2024, 22 home cooks will go head-to-head in the kitchen for a chance to win $250,000 in prize money. They are Alex Crisp, Darrsh Clarke, David Tan, Gillian Dinh, Harry Butterfield, James Holmes, Jonathan Hooper, Josh Clarke, Josh Perry, Juan De La Cruz Torales Villarreal, Khristian Walker, Lachlan Whittle, Lily Davies, Lourdes Leschen, Mimi Wong, Nat Thaipun, Savindri Perera, Snezana Calic, Steph Griffen, Stephen Dennis, Sue Bazely and Sumeet Saigal. 

MasterChef Australia 2024 airs Sunday to Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10 Play.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Missing Perspectives acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. We acknowledge that land in Australia was never ceded and always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.

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