After an intense semi-final episode, Aaron Kher has officially been eliminated from the 2026 season of MasterChef, making way for top two Vinnie and Petro to duke it out in the finale.
The top three finalists were given a service challenge in last night’s episode, requiring them to deliver fine dining dishes to both the judges and a restaurant’s worth of other lucky diners. Unluckily for Aaron, his well-received dessert dish could not make up for his slightly subpar main in the judges’ eyes, and he was sent packing just shy of the finish line.
JC told Aaron to ‘keep in contact’ with him after his elimination
Though unfortunate, Aaron’s elimination came with a win, and it was when MasterChef judge Jean-Christophe Novelli told the eliminee upon his exit to “keep in contact” with him, adding that he made the MasterChef kitchen a special place and that his journey throughout the competition reminded him of his own beginnings as a chef.
The heartfelt moment between Jean and Aaron was celebrated by viewers on social media, who appreciated the judge’s openness to helping Aaron out in the future and described it as a “silver lining” and “so deserved” on Aaron’s part. The brief interaction naturally got us wondering, are Aaron and Jean planning some sort of collaboration, and what did Aaron think of getting a judges’ stamp of approval in this way?
MasterChef’s Aaron says a collaboration with JC might be ‘on the cards’
Well, Aaron answered all our questions in an exclusive post-elimination interview with Chattr, saying Jean’s comment was a show of support and guidance for the future of his cooking career. “I think [Jean] meant I could reach out to him and ask him for help,” Aaron told us.
“He was very invested in me wanting to be a chef, and was someone who encouraged me and could see that for me,” he added. Aaron went on to describe his mentor-student relationship with Jean throughout the competition. “I think moving forward, that’s the kind of mentorship that he’s providing.”
Aaron did not rule out the possibility of working with Jean in some capacity once this season of MasterChef wraps up. “It could be on the cards actually,” Aaron told Chattr of a potential collaboration with Jean, adding that he could maybe “even do a stage in one of his restaurants”.
Though that opportunity is not totally off the table, Aaron said Jean’s comment was likely just a broad offer for guidance whenever he might need it. “I think more immediately, for me, it’s just about reaching out to see if there’s potential areas where I’ve been asking for guidance or mentorship,” Aaron told us.
We’ll have to wait and see whether that team-up ever becomes a reality (it certainly has a nice ring to it!), but in the meantime it’s all systems go for the highly-anticipated MasterChef grand finale. Vinnie and Petro will complete a Mystery Box challenge and a Final Challenge guest judged by renowned chef Cherish Finden.
Whoever wins those challenges will be crowned the victor of MasterChef’s 2026. The grand finale airs on Channel 10 on Sunday, August 9.
MasterChef Australia airs Sunday 7pm and Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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