MasterChef salary bombshell: Why Poh Ling Yeow is ‘on a lot more money’ than the other returning contestants
Poh Ling Yeow reportedly used her celebrity status to negotiate a big salary for MasterChef: Back to Win.
Producers were keen to recruit high-profile former contestants for the new season, and Poh was top of their wish list, according to New Idea.
As a result, she was able to ask for a more generous appearance fee, a source said.
‘She’s on a lot more money than any of the others’: Poh Ling Yeow (pictured on Sunday’s episode) reportedly used her celebrity status to negotiate a big salary for MasterChef
The insider added that Poh was being featured so prominently in the edit because of the investment Channel 10 had made.
‘They couldn’t have done an all-stars season without her,’ the source explained.
‘She’s also on a lot more money than any of the other contestants, so the real reason she’s getting so much more airtime is because producers are simply ensuring they’re getting their money’s worth.’
Poh had apparently been reluctant to return to the cooking franchise that made her famous, and feared it would negatively affect her reputation if she didn’t do well.
In-demand: Producers were keen to recruit high-profile former contestants for the new season and Poh was top of their wish list, according to New Idea. Pictured on July 29, 2019 in Sydney
It comes after an anonymous insider spoke to the same magazine about the salaries of the hosts, guest judges and contestants.
The returning competitors were supposedly able to negotiate deals worth tens of thousands of dollars each.
The biggest payday was reserved for celebrity guest judge Katy Perry, who secured an estimated $100,000 for her appearance, which aired last week.
The secret’s out! It comes after an insider spoke to the same magazine about the salaries of the hosts, guest judges and contestants. Pictured: hosts Andy Allen (left), Melissa Leong (centre right) and Jock Zonfrillo (right) with celebrity guest judge Katy Perry (centre left) in March
The Bon Appétit singer, 35, visited the set ‘under a military-like veil of secrecy’ while in Australia for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in March.
The publication did not disclose how much Gordon Ramsay was paid for his role as a recurring guest judge.
But considering his various TV roles in America and the UK, it’s likely he commanded a similar six-figure fee.
Not bad for a day’s work! The biggest payday was reserved for celebrity guest judge Katy Perry (left, with fiancé Orlando Bloom), who secured an estimated $100,000 for her appearance
In demand: The publication did not disclose how much Gordon Ramsay (left) was paid for his role as a recurring guest judge. But considering his various TV roles in America and the UK, it’s likely he commanded a similar six-figure fee
Season one runner-up Poh and season three fan favourite Hayden Quinn were reportedly both paid $40,000.
While New Idea did not state the judges’ pay, their combined salaries were said to be ‘outweighed’ by the combined salaries of the contestants.
The three judges this year are Scottish-born restaurateur Jock Zonfrillo, food critic Melissa Leong and MasterChef season four winner Andy Allen.
Big money: Season one runner-up Poh (left) and season three fan favourite Hayden Quinn (right) were reportedly both paid $40,000
They replaced the show’s original judges, Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, who quit last year over a salary dispute.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 for comment.
MasterChef Australia continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel 10
Mystery: While New Idea did not state the judges’ pay, their combined salaries were said to be ‘outweighed’ by the combined salaries of the contestants