MasterChef Australia‘s Curtis Stone has faced criticism over the years for his tough-love approach to judging when appearing as a guest judge on the show, and 2026 contestants Hannah and Pat have shared what he’s really like.
Curtis has appeared on multiple seasons of the franchise, and his harsh approach seemed to peak during his appearance on MasterChef Australia 2024, when he went around and individually criticised almost every contestant’s dish during a Service Challenge.
“Tonight’s episode just showcased what a jerk Curtis Stone is… disappointing. Contestants deserved better,” one viewer wrote on X at the time, while another lamented that they didn’t “recall Curtis being this unpleasant in past seasons.”
It seems as though his blunt reputation has stuck with him, with a Reddit user pointing out that his approach was still dividing viewers on Reddit earlier this year.
“On one hand, he brings serious credibility – Michelin stars, global experience, and training under Marco Pierre White — so the high standards make sense. But the way he delivers criticism can come across as a bit intense, especially compared to the more encouraging tone the show is known for,” they wrote.
“Some people see it as the kind of pressure that pushes contestants to level up, while others feel it takes away from the supportive vibe that makes the show enjoyable. It really comes down to whether you think MasterChef should feel like a high-stakes professional kitchen, or a place where growth is guided a little more gently.”
Pat and Hannah reveal what Curtis Stone is really like in the MasterChef kitchen
While fans may be convinced that Curtis Stone is a tough critic, MasterChef Australia 2026 contestants Hannah and Pat had nothing but nice things to say about him when reflecting on the Curtis Stone Mystery Box challenge, which he judged.
“I found him incredibly encouraging and incredibly generous with his advice. He would come around and just chat it through, and kind of give you the sense of, yes you could do this, like, you’ve got this. I think his encouragement and presence in the kitchen actually lifted that whole cook for everyone that day,” Hannah told Chattr.
“He’s definitely got that chef persona, Curtis Stone, he’s got this presence that you want to make him proud of you, you don’t want to screw up,” she added.
Pat said that he also found Curtis extremely nice, but pointed out that, considering he and Hannah won the challenge, they probably avoided the criticism some of the other contestants may have received.
“All my interactions, he definitely knows his stuff, like he is pretty decisive when he calls a spade a spade, but I like that. So I guess for me it’s easy for me to say he was fine and great because he loved my dish. He’s very honest, and I think a couple of contestants, he tells them that he thinks that they could have done better and all that, but from my interactions, he was really cool.”
MasterChef Australia airs Sunday — Wednesday on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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