Reality TV

EXCLUSIVE: MasterChef runner-up Sarah Todd reveals the surprising reality show she has her sights set on

''I'm obsessed with it.''
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Despite being narrowly defeated in the MasterChef: Fans and Faves finale, Sarah Todd couldn’t be more excited for her future.

With a new range of spices hitting supermarket shelves and an upcoming appearance on an Indian TV show, the world is her oyster.

But despite needing a well-earned break for the meantime, Sarah reveals to TV WEEK that she would gladly throw her hat in ring of another famed reality TV show.

Sarah narrowly lost to Billie Mckay in the finale.

(Image: Ten)

“I’m a terrible dancer – well I’m not terrible, but I love to dance and I’ve always dreamt of going on Dancing With The Stars!” she tells TV WEEK fresh off the MasterChef finale.

“I’m obsessed with it, I just love watching it and I did some dancing in high school and that’s something that I would definitely be interested in.”

In last night’s finale, Sarah narrowly lost to fellow returning contender Billie McKay, but the 34-year-old says she has no regrets about her second stint on the show.

“I really enjoyed my last cook. Having the families there and cooking on that day I felt really at ease and really happy. I just don’t think I could have done anything more on that last challenge. So I just feel really really happy about it actually,” she says.

Having her 11-year-old son Pheonix on set to cheer her on was the icing on the cake.

(Image: Instagram)

Of course, having her 11-year-old son Pheonix on set to cheer her on was the icing on the cake.

“He’s an angel. He has just grown into such an incredible boy and it’s a strange thing because he was two when I was [on MasterChef] the first time and it’s very different this time because I know obviously his friends are going to be talking about it and he understands it a lot more,” Sarah says.

“He is just so mature now and he’s really sweet. He was supportive which is such a strange thing for an 11-year-old boy to be.”

Pheonix developed a passion for cooking during the COVID pandemic, and Sarah even had her sights set on putting his name forward for Junior MasterChef when a very unexpected opportunity presented itself.

For Sarah, who first appeared on MasterChef back in 2014, taking to the kitchen was a very different experience this time around.

(Image: Ten)

“We were in lockdown and we were at home so much so we were like, ‘What about if we start training you up for Junior MasterChef?’ And then I get a call for me to go back on MasterChef!” she laughs.

“We really got into [cooking] together the last couple of years. He makes a lot of Indian curries and obviously the rotis. I have to say he makes a mean poached egg on toast!”

For Sarah, who first appeared on MasterChef back in 2014, taking to the kitchen was a very different experience this time around.

“The first time I was very young. I hadn’t had a huge amount of experience cooking and I was figuring out if that was something that could be my career in my future,” she says.

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“This time around, I feel like it gave me time to just focus on my craft. It really helped me develop [my passion] even more. It sounds cliché but I really found my true cooking style.”

Sarah’s second time on MasterChef was also very different due to her first stint for three other reasons: the new show’s new judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo (who replaced Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris.)

The mother-of-one says she grew particularly close to Jock, with both sharing a love of French cuisine.

“I really admitted Jock’s cooking style. Every piece of feedback I got from him I really took on board because I love those French techniques with Indian flavours and I feel like Jock does the French techniques with Australian produce,” she says.

“I admire the way his brain works around food.”

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