{"id":537862,"date":"2026-07-22T02:26:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T02:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/537862\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T02:26:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T02:26:22","slug":"what-masterchefs-luke-hated-about-the-judges-feedback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/537862\/","title":{"rendered":"What MasterChef’s Luke ‘hated’ about the judges’ feedback"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a spot in the Top 5<\/a> on the line, it\u2019s fair to say every contestant <\/a>was feeling the pressure <\/a>in the MasterChef <\/a>kitchen as Level Up Week kicked off.<\/p>\n

Throughout the week, each judge will take their turn to set a challenge for the contestants<\/a>, and food writer and critic Sofia Levin<\/a> was up first. Tasked with a one-ingredient Mystery Box challenge, the contestants could choose between onion, yuzu, beetroot, or almonds to create a dish worthy enough to score them immunity ahead of the next elimination<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

To his delight, Vinnie secured his spot in the Top 5, while Luke had a disappointing cook <\/a>that ended in tears. <\/p>\n

Before the judges even gave their feedback, Luke admitted to fellow cook Aaron that he \u201cembarrassed himself\u201d with his Yuzu Meringue Crepe Cake dish, with the dish falling apart as soon as he tried to assemble it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite Aaron\u2019s kind words of encouragement, Luke was deflated as he brought his dish to the judging panel.<\/p>\n

Poh asked Luke why he didn\u2019t use more yuzus in his dish, to which he said he used ten. <\/p>\n

However, evidently, that wasn\u2019t enough, and Andy<\/a> wasn\u2019t impressed.<\/p>\n

After looking at the disassembled dish, Andy asked Luke if he wanted his feedback \u201csoft and fluffy or hard and real\u201d, to which Luke opted for the latter. <\/p>\n

The judge then levelled with the 20-year-old, confessing that both he and Poh had hard days in the MasterChef <\/a>kitchen. However, he pointed out that Luke needed to take responsibility for his mistakes and told him that it \u201cwasn\u2019t good enough\u201d to say he had used ten yuzus when 50 were available.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The comments left viewers divided over whether they were \u201ctoo harsh\u201d for the young contestant, while Luke told WHO what it was like to receive feedback from people he \u201clooks up to so much and aspires to be so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans call out Andy\u2019s \u2018appalling\u2019 behaviour<\/p>\n

Despite Luke<\/a> requesting the \u201chard and real\u201d feedback from Andy, many fans <\/a>still believed the judge went too far, comparing his comments to Poh\u2019s <\/a>more balanced feedback.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was lovely to hear Poh give an honest critique of Luke\u2019s cook,\u201d one viewer wrote online. \u201cIt was disappointing that Andy chose to critique Luke, the person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho on earth does Andy think he has become? Gordon Ramsey? The way he stood over Luke was the reason most chefs have breakdowns,\u201d another commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree. Appalling behaviour from Andy to Luke,\u201d a third seconded.<\/p>\n

However, other viewers were more balanced in their observations, pointing out that \u201cit was not harsh\u201d and that Andy is simply \u201ctrying so hard to get through to Luke because he really cares\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAndy is a judge. And a good chef. Luke\u2019s dish was a disaster and [it] needed the honest feedback,\u201d one viewer commented on social media. \u201cAnd Andy also made it clear that he wanted Luke to put this behind him and get this out of his head. This is what the judges are supposed to do. Give honest feedback even when it seems cruel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LukeLuke was disappointed with his Yuzu Meringue Crepe Cake dish. Credit: Channel 10. <\/p>\n

Luke agrees that it was what he \u2018needed to hear\u2019<\/p>\n

When reflecting on receiving negative feedback from the judges during his time on the show, Luke admitted that it was \u201chard\u201d at times, but also necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe judges feedback\u2026 it certainly is hard hearing any negative feedback from people you look up to so much and aspire to be so much,\u201d he told WHO. \u201cBut knowing who they are and their credibility, it\u2019s impossible to ever disagree with anything they say.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if it might seem harsh at times, the majority of the time they can be soft, but in general I think they try to cater their feedback to what the dish deserves and what you need to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luke added: \u201cIt really varies from situation to situation, I certainly hated getting bad feedback \u2013 doesn\u2019t everyone! \u2013 but I always used it as fuel to come back and deliver in eliminations.\u201d<\/p>\n

With an elimination on the horizon, let\u2019s hope Luke takes Andy\u2019s feedback on the chin and implements everything he\u2019s learned!<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Profile\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFreja Newman\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Freja Newman is a Digital Content Producer for WHO Magazine, writing entertainment and lifestyle content while also contributing to the publication\u2019s social media. She loves diving deep into iconic popular culture moments, as well as all the latest trends across fashion and wellness. With a degree in Media and Communications and International Relations from the University of Sydney, Freja has written and produced content for publications like Edinburgh Fringe Review and non-for-profits like UNICEF Australia. She is obsessed with storytelling in any and every form and is constantly online, earmarking the latest celebrity news, fashion trends, and film, TV and theatre releases. When it comes to social media, mini Freja\u2019s iMovie and Video Star phase prepared her well, as she\u2019s unafraid to get behind the camera and find new and exciting ways to make digital stories a success.<\/p>\n

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