The third series of the Australian cooking game show MasterChef Australia premiered on Sunday, 1 May 2011 at 7:30 pm on Network Ten. Judges George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston returned from the previous series and were joined by Matt Moran.Ten renews MasterChef , mediaspy.org. Retrieved 5 July 2010. The third series was won by Kate Bracks who defeated Michael Weldon in the grand finale on 7 August 2011. The second part of the series' final (episode 85, "The Winner Announced"), attracted an audience of 2.74 million viewers, making it the third most viewed episode of any Australian television series of 2011, only beaten by the final episodes of The Block (3.09 million) and Australia's Got Talent (2.98 million).
Changes The third series of MasterChef Australia brought some changes to the format of the show. Joining the judging panel as a regular guest was chef Matt Moran. A twist used in past series of the show to bring back eliminated contestants for a second chance was dropped for series 3.
While the weekly routine was mostly unchanged, there were some small differences in series 3.
Sunday night's challenge was not restricted to a Mystery Box Challenge and an Invention Test, with Team and Offsite Challenges also used.
The Tuesday night challenge was modified: now known as an immunity challenge rather than a celebrity chef challenge; the standing of the opponent varied, with anyone from a contestant to an apprentice or a well-known chef appearing. The rules varied slightly from week to week, but typically the contestant(s) were given a recipe and a time advantage but neither competitor had knowledge of what they were about to cook until just before the challenge started.
Eliminations on Thursdays were no longer decided by taste tests; final challenges were based on cooking.
Contestants
Opening Week The opening week of MasterChef Australia saw 50 contestants competing for the 24 positions in the main competition. Twenty-six were eliminated:
Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 4 Episode 7Tony Plowman – QLD Tanja Binggeli – NSW Alby Pintore – VIC Marie Anne Lyons – VIC Samantha Denton – WA Michael Suthers – QLD Cindy Harrington – QLD Elisa Goethals – VIC Nick Kulakoff – SA Rod Watkins – VIC Sarah Arnold – QLD Craig Pedrola – NSW Jess Nicholls – QLD Sam Gadsden – VIC Greg Andren – NSW Dai Do – SA Elizabeth Hallam – VIC Myri Timotheou – SA Ariana Heemi – VIC John Hughes – SA Nathan Mallon – VIC Liz Theodoros – SA Daniel Vaughan – VIC Vittoria Chiarilli – VIC Gemma Seeto – QLD Alex Glasson – WA
Top 24 The full Top 24 were revealed on Sunday, 8 May. At the first Top 24 challenge, it was revealed that Paul had quit the competition due to work commitments and Alex, who had been eliminated in the Top 50 portion, was entered as his replacement.
Contestant Age State Occupation Status Kate Bracks 35 NSW MumWinner 7 August Michael Weldon 25 SA Film Projectionist Runner-up 7 August Alana Lowes 31 QLD JournalistEliminated 4 August Dani Venn 25 VIC PublicistEliminated 2 August Ellie Paxton-Hall 20 QLD Student NurseEliminated 28 July Hayden Quinn 24 NSW Professional LifeguardEliminated 21 July Billy Law 34 NSW Web DesignerEliminated 18 JulyReturned 6 JulyInitially Eliminated 4 July Sún Etheridge 32 QLD Credit AnalystEliminated 14 July Peter Vickery 50 NSW Account ManagerEliminated 7 July Mat Beyer 24 VIC IT Tech SupportDisqualified 6 July Kumar Pereira 62 NSW Design TeacherEliminated 30 June Danielle Dixon 29 QLD Admin ManagerEliminated 27 June Craig Young 43 QLD Professional MusicianEliminated 23 June Adam Bowen 31 QLD Scuba Diving InstructorQuit 20 June Shannon Smyth 26 QLD ReceptionistEliminated 16 June Rachel McSweeney 45 WA Office AdministratorEliminated 13 June Arena Dunn 25 WA Personal TrainerEliminated 9 June Jay Huxley 31 NSW Car Sales ManagerEliminated 6 June Andrew Henderson 37 SA Youth WorkerEliminated 2 June Cleo Kerameas 45 NSW Executive AssistantEliminated 26 May Chelsea Fammartino 34 VIC Retail AssistantEliminated 23 May Seamus Ashley 32 VIC Graphic & Web DesignerEliminated 19 May Alex Glasson 26 WA CNC MachinistEliminated 16 May Tom Rutledge 29 NSW General managerEliminated 12 May Paul Lombardi 33 WA Fighter PilotQuit 9 May (work commitment)
Future appearances
In Series 4 Kate Bracks appeared as a guest judge for a Mystery Box Challenge. Kate appeared on a Special All Star series for charity along with Kumar Pereira, Hayden Quinn and Dani Venn. Kumar came 12th, Hayden came 10th, Dani came 6th and Kate came 3rd. In Series 6 Kate appeared as a guest judge for both the Mystery Box and Invention Test Challenge. In a superstar themed week in Series 7 Hayden appeared as a guest judge for an Invention Test challenge. Kate appeared at the Auditions for Series 10 to support the Top 50, while Hayden & Kumar all appeared as guests for the semi final service challenge along with Michael Weldon, Ellie Paxton-Hall, Billy Hall & Peter Vickery. Dani and Hayden appeared on Series 12. Dani was eliminated on 3 May 2020, finishing 20th and Hayden was eliminated on 17 May 2020, finishing 15th. Michael also appeared in 'Twist Week' for a Masterclass Lesson. In Series 14 Michael appeared for another chance to win the title. Michael was eliminated on 12 June 2022, finishing 11th. In Series 16 Michael appeared as a guest for the 1st service challenge. Alana Lowes appeared on Series 17 and was eliminated on 13 July 2025, finishing 8th.
Guests Adriano Zumbo – Series Premiere: Top 50: Part 1, Pressure Test 10 Maggie Beer – Top 50: Part 2, MasterClass 1, Pressure Test 9 Justin North – Immunity Challenge 1, MasterClass 2, MasterClass 9 Alessandro Pavoni – Immunity Challenge 1, MasterClass 2, Immunity Challenge 9 Alex Keene – Immunity Challenge 1, Immunity Challenge 9 Andrew Connole – Offsite Challenge 1 Jean-Luc Rocha – Elimination Challenge 1 Abla Amad – Elimination Challenge 1 Shaun Presland – Elimination Challenge 1, MasterClass 14 Andrew McConnell – Immunity Challenge 2 Colin Fassnidge – Immunity Challenge 2, MasterClass 3, Worst Nightmare Challenge Jonathan Barthelmess – Elimination Challenge 2 Leanne Beck – MasterClass 3 Mark Jensen – Immunity Challenge 3 Adam D'Sylva – Immunity Challenge 3 Reuben Radonich – Elimination Challenge 3 Romeo Baudouin – MasterClass 4 Donna Hay – MasterClass 4 Jake Drachenberg – W.A. Invention Test Hadleigh Troy – Immunity Challenge 4 Tony Howell – Immunity Challenge 4 Stefano Manfredi – Elimination Challenge 4 Frank Shek – MasterClass 5 Dan Hong – Pressure Test 3 Martin Boetz – Immunity Challenge 5 Thorsten Schmidt – Immunity Challenge 5 Nigella Lawson – Offsite Challenge 4 Tetsuya Wakuda – Elimination Challenge 5 Elena Arzak – Elimination Challenge 5 Miguel Maestre – MasterClass 6 Rick Stein – MasterClass 6 Chef Wan – MasterClass 6 Neil Perry – QANTAS Fine Dining Challenge, QANTAS First Lounge Challenge Thomas Keller – QANTAS Fine Dining Challenge Andoni Aduriz – QANTAS Fine Dining Challenge Heston Blumenthal – Pressure Test 4 Darren Purchese – Immunity Challenge 6 Matt Stone – Offsite Challenge 5 James Privett – MasterClass 7 David Chang – Sunday Challenge 6, Ultimate Dinner Party Challenge Mary Calombaris – Pressure Test 5, MasterClass 8 Jeremy Strode – Immunity Challenge 7 Vincent Gadan – Immunity Challenge 7, MasterClass 8 Shane Osborn – Elimination Challenge 7 Christine Manfield – MasterClass 8, Immunity Challenge 8 Jim Moran – Sunday Challenge 7 Matthew Kemp – Pressure Test 6 Merle Parrish – Immunity Challenge 8 Dietmar Sawyere – Elimination Challenge 8 Fleur Sullivan – MasterClass 9 Al Brown – MasterClass 9 Simon Gault – MasterClass 9 Martin Bosley – MasterClass 9 Shane Delia – Sunday Challenge 8 Armando Percuoco – Immunity Challenge 9 Marco Pierre White – Offsite Challenge 8 Anthony Bourdain – Elimination Challenge 9, Sunday Challenge 9 Andre Ursini – Masterclass 10 Jimmy Seervai – Masterclass 10 Luke Nguyen – Masterclass 10 Alvin Quah – Masterclass 10 Eric Ripert – Sunday Challenge 9 Armando Monterroso – United Nations Challenge Lidia Bastianich – Immunity Challenge 10 Cesare Casella – Immunity Challenge 10 Jon Bignelli – Ultimate Dinner Party Challenge Paul Liebrandt – Ultimate Dinner Party Challenge Kenneth Woods – Elimination Challenge 10 Tren'ness Woods-Black – Elimination Challenge 10 Sylvia Woods – Elimination Challenge 10 Daniel Boulud – MasterClass 11 Sandy Levine – MasterClass 11 Steve Evetts – MasterClass 11 Kylie Kwong – Sunday Challenge 10 14th Dalai Lama – Sunday Challenge 10 Tim Costello – Sunday Challenge 10 Shanaka Fernando – Sunday Challenge 10 Bill Crews – Sunday Challenge 10 Ronnie Khan – Sunday Challenge 10 Katrina Kanetani – Pressure Test 8 Philippa Sibley – Immunity Challenge 11 Eamon Sullivan – Immunity Challenge 11 Alan Joyce – QANTAS First Lounge Challenge Ben Milgate – MasterClass 12 Elvis Abrahanowicz – MasterClass 12 Mark Olive – MasterClass 12 Shannon Bennett – Immunity Challenge 12, MasterClass 14 Teage Ezard – Immunity Challenge 12 Donovan Cook – Worst Nightmare Challenge Ashly Hicks – Worst Nightmare Challenge Anthea Leonard – MasterClass 13 Curtis Stone – Sunday Challenge 12 Mark Best – Three Hat Challenge Peter Doyle – Three Hat Challenge Peter Gilmore – Three Hat Challenge Martin Benn – MasterClass 14 René Redzepi – Grand Finale
Elimination chart No. Week 123456789101112Semi-Finals WeekFinals Week SundayChallengeWinnerNoneHaydenJayCraigPeterSúnAdamBillyDaniEllieJayKumarMichaelPeterRachelSúnDanielleDanielleKateHaydenBilly(Kate)DaniMichaelDaniMichaelMichael ImmunityChallengeNoneWin:HaydenLose:JayLose:CraigPeterSúnLose:JayLose:DanielleLose:KateLose:HaydenLose:BillyDraw:DaniWin:EllieWin:DaniLose:MichaelNone1KateTop 24 IN IN ININ IN IN IN Btm 2 IN Btm 3 ININ WinIN Win WINNER2MichaelTop 24IN IN IN IN Btm 4 Btm 3 Btm 2 WinIN Btm 4 Btm 2 IN Win 3AlanaTop 24IN IN IN IN IN IN Btm 2IN IN IN WinIN IN Win Btm 3IN Win Elim 4DaniTop 24IN IN IN ININ Btm 3 IN IN Lose ININ IN Elim 5EllieTop 24IN Btm 3 Btm 3 ININ Btm 3 IN DNP Btm 3 IN IN Win Win ININ Elim 6HaydenTop 24 IN IN ININ IN Imm.IN Btm 3 IN LoseIN Elim 7BillyTop 24 Btm 3 IN IN IN IN IN Elim Team Win Lose Elim 8SúnTop 24IN IN INININ IN IN IN IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 65)9PeterTop 24IN IN Btm 3 INININ IN Btm 3 Elim Eliminated (Ep 59)10MatTop 24IN IN IN ININ IN IN IN Btm 3 Disqualified (Ep 58)11KumarTop 24IN Btm 2IN IN Btm 3 IN Btm 2IN IN IN IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 53)12DanielleTop 24IN IN IN IN Btm 3 Elim Eliminated (Ep 50)13CraigTop 24IN Top 3 ININ Btm 4 Btm 2IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 47)14AdamTop 24IN IN IN IN IN IN Quit Withdrew (Ep 44)15ShannonTop 24IN IN IN Btm 2 Btm 4 Elim Eliminated (Ep 41)16RachelTop 24IN IN Btm 3 INININ Elim Eliminated (Ep 38)17ArenaTop 24IN IN IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 35)18JayTop 24IN IN Win Imm. Elim Eliminated (Ep 32)19AndrewTop 24IN IN IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 29)20CleoTop 24IN Top 3 IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 23)21ChelseaTop 24IN IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 20)22SeamusTop 24IN IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 17)23AlexReturnIN Elim Eliminated (Ep 14)24TomTop 24IN Elim Eliminated (Ep 11)25PaulQuit Withdrew (Ep 8) Notes None None None NoneEliminated(Alex)PaulNoneTomAlexSeamusChelseaCleoNoneNoneAndrewJay Re-EliminatedArenaRachelShannonAdamCraigDanielleKumarBilly(Billy)MatPeterSúnBilly Re-EliminatedHaydenNoneNoneEllieNoneDaniAlanaMichael82 pointsto winKate87 pointsto win
In Week 1, the judges selected the twenty-four finalists from the Top 50. In Week 2, prior to the first Top 24 challenge, it was revealed that Paul had withdrawn from the competition citing work commitments. His place was taken by Alex. Also, instead of the traditional Sunday Challenge, contestants were asked to cook the dish that "changed their life". There was no Bottom 3 for this challenge. In Weeks 3 and 7, the entire losing team went through to the Elimination Challenge, where they competed in three rounds, until two remained for the final round.