Andy Allen (chef)

Allen competed in the fourth season of MasterChef Australia. After making it to the final, Allen beat fellow finalists Audra Morrice and Julia Taylor in a three-way contest. Facing only Taylor for the final two rounds, Allen won with a score of 76 to Taylor's 68.

He returned in the eleventh season as a professional Secret Chef, and lost to Sandeep Pandit by a perfect score, 30, in an Immunity Pin Challenge. His score was kept secret, but was revealed on Facebook to be 24.[2]

In October 2019, he was announced as one of three of the new MasterChef judges who will replace George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston.[3] He becomes the third former contestant and winner worldwide to become a regular judge, after former MasterChef USA winner Christine Ha became a regular judge for MasterChef Vietnam. The second was Claudia Sandoval. She went on to be a regular judge for MasterChef Latino.

Allen is an electrician by occupation and is a basketball player with the Maitland Mustangs. He also volunteered to work on extensions to his local basketball stadium.[4]

Allen's father Peter is a teacher at Bolwarra Public School,[5] and was also the primary cricket convenor for the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association.[6] Allen's mother was also a teacher for East Maitland Public School.

Allen also appeared in an episode of MasterChef Australia All-Stars in August 2012..

Allen has pursued a career in the Hospitality industry and now co-owns a restaurant, Three Blue Ducks, that has 5 locations around Australia, in Bronte, Rosebery and Byron Bay in NSW, as well as Brisbane and Melbourne [7]. He is currently a One Hat Chef.