Controversial former MasterChef judge George Calombaris makes a dismal return to television as his new low-budget cooking show bombards ratings with just 69,000 viewers tuning in
The return of former MasterChef Australia judge George Calombaris to television proved to be an anticlimax.
His new low-budget reality show Hungry, which airs on Channel 10, debuted to less than spectacular ratings last Saturday, reports The Herald Sun.
The cooking show recorded a measly 69,000 viewers in the 6:30 p.m. subway ratings.
The return of former MasterChef Australia judge George Calombaris to television proved to be an anticlimax. His new low-budget reality show, Hungry, debuted to less than spectacular ratings on Channel 10 last Saturday. Pictured: Calombaris and co-host Sarah Todd
It comes after the 44-year-old hit rock bottom following a series of scandals.
He made headlines after being found guilty of underpaying his restaurant staff by nearly $8 million. He then resigned from MasterChef in 2019 amid controversy.
Former MasterChef contestant Sarah Todd, 34, co-hosts the new series, which focuses on Australia’s diverse culinary tastes.
Meanwhile, the co-hosts took to Instagram to showcase a live session and reveal how far they’re willing to go to keep Hungry’s budget economical.
The cooking show recorded a measly 69,000 viewers on the subway at 6:30 p.m.
Cost-cutting measures, Todd says, included the upkeep of Calombaris’ garments — usually the work of a dedicated designer.
George described MasterChef’s production values as relatively “huge”, in the Instagram chat.
“…it’s just a few cameramen, a few producers,” he said of his new show.
The co-hosts took to Instagram Live to reveal how far they’re willing to go to keep Hungry’s budget economical. Pictured: Ex-model and former MasterChef contestant Todd, who made her debut on the hit show in 2014 when she finished ninth
He added that Todd even put on makeup.
But elsewhere in their online chat, the glamorous ex-model put a positive spin on the task of lugging her co-hosts’ clothes down the street.
‘I think it’s good to take the glitz and glamor out of [something like] Master Chief, she said.
Hungry, on the other hand, is funded entirely by a sponsor.
Hungry has such a small budget that Todd takes care of the clothes George wears on the show and does his makeup. Pictured: The co-hosts’ shop in a scene from Hungry
Todd, who finished second in the 2022 MasterChef: Fans and Faves season, said the new show will give viewers a chance to see “how food can go beyond cultures and countries and it really brings people together.” .
The dark-haired beauty first appeared on MasterChef in 2014 and finished ninth.
She became one of the show’s most successful alumni, opening two restaurants in India.
Todd then starred in two TV shows – My Restaurant In India and My Second Restaurant In India – which followed his restaurant openings in Goa and Mumbai respectively.
George says he welcomes the lack of shine in the new show compared to MasterChef
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