2017 MasterChef Australia runner-up Ben Ungermann was set to make a return to the upcoming 2020 season of the cooking competition. However, it was confirmed today that the 34-year-old has been removed from the series after being arrested.
WATCH: First Look at MasterChef AU 2020 featuring Gordon Ramsay
In a statement to the Herald Sun on Friday, a spokesperson for MasterChef production company, Endemol Shine said Ben’s arrest was ‘of a personal nature’.
‘We can confirm Ben Ungermann has left the MasterChef Australia competition,’ the spokesperson said.
‘As this is a police matter, we will not be making further comment.’
Filming of the show will continue without Ben, despite the fan-favourite featuring in a teaser trailer for the upcoming series, which will start in April.
Since appearing on MasterChef Australia in 2017, Ben has also featured on MasterChef Holland and MasterChef Indonesia.
In the past few days, Ben – who also runs the Ungermann Brothers Ice Cream Parlour with his younger brother, Danny – has shared a number of cryptic posts to social media, apparently hinting at his troubles.
‘You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have,’ he captioned a black and white photo of himself on March 21.
And in a gym selfie from March 20, the father of three said: “THE COMEBACK IS ALWAYS GREATER THAN THE SETBACK. 💪🏽”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
