Heartbreaking reason why MasterChef’s favourite star is ‘missing’ from Redemption episode
The eliminated participants of the 16th season of MasterChef Australia will return to the kitchen in Wednesday night’s episode for the highly anticipated second chance at cooking, which will see one lucky person re-enter the competition. While viewers have been hoping for this redemption episode all season, especially given how many fan favorites have been sent home in recent weeks, they were left disappointed after the release of a new teaser.
A promo video that follows the official MasterChef On the Instagram page, all but one of the eliminated contestants can be seen heading back to the kitchen. Noticeably missing is shark-tooth-wearing Stephen Dennis, aka Steve. The 62-year-old tour guide was recently sent home during Sunday night’s elimination, so fans were understandably surprised not to spot him in the teaser.
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“Is Steve there?” one person commented, while another added: “Where is Steve!?”.
“Why isn’t Steve back?” wrote a third, followed by someone else who said, “I guess Steve declined unless I’m blind.”
“Hope Snez (Calic) comes back but super disappointed about Stephen,” another user replied.
Why didn’t Steve return to MasterChef?
In a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle On Wednesday, Steve announced that he had decided not to return to the kitchen for the second-grader cooking job because he had to take care of his mother, Dahlas.
“My mother is in hospital and is very unwell,” he said. “My father died during Covid, so I have to support my mother and it would be unfair to my family to go back to filming with that in mind.”
Fellow eliminated contestant Juan De La Cruz shared an Instagram story on Wednesday afternoon, sending his best wishes to Steve and his mother, writing, “I’m going to miss you tonight @stevowildchef. Take care of your mommy.”
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Before taking part in season 16, Steve had originally applied and been accepted for the first season of the show in 2009. The amateur chef ultimately had to turn down the offer as a cyclone prevented him from travelling and his very adventurous life prevented him from appearing on the reality show until now.
The father of two children owes his love of cooking to his mother, who gave him the Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook when he was 18. His dream is to open a small restaurant called Table For 8ight.
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