The 2025 season of MasterChef Australia has marked the return of many of the franchise’s most talented chefs; however, for Season 13 star Pete Campbell, his departure from the series came prematurely, with the chef confirming he had been diagnosed with cancer.
“The diagnosis was a complete shock. Given I had no other symptoms and felt completely healthy, I asked – kind of begged – the doctor if I could start treatment after the competition,” Pete told Woman’s Day, adding that he was soon confronted with the severity of his Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.
“She told me I’d possibly die, and that’s when the severity of the situation really hit me and replaced the disappointment. From there, I just wanted to start treatment as soon as possible and get better for my family.”
After receiving the news while filming for the show, Pete left the MasterChef kitchen, undergoing his first session of chemotherapy one week after receiving his diagnosis.
“Initially, I was able to bounce back quite easily from treatment, but it does have an accumulative effect which makes the bounce back harder over time,” he shared.
Now, as he nears the end of his treatment, the 40-year-old revealed that he is “feeling tip top,” and credits his wife Alana for her ongoing support and strength.
“She has been right there with me for every step of this unfortunate journey. Needing to manage the emotions of the circumstance, while also taking care of her salon, taking care of the girls, and school is enormous pressure, and the way she has handled it is unbelievable.”
The two-time contestant also shared that he’s received great support from his MasterChef Australia family, with judge Andy Allen and fellow alumni Laura Sharrad reaching out to share their condolences.
“I’ve received a lot of support from other contestants, but also so much support from MasterChef fans all over the world. So many people have shared stories of how cancer has impacted them, with some currently going through their own treatment. It’s been really humbling to stay in touch with them and be able to support each other.”
