Poh Ling Yeow

It feels like that's always been within you though.

So it's interesting to hear you say that Matt was someone who kind of, you know, gave you the push to, and the kind of catalyst to, to do that because your curiosity, your drive, the risks that you take feels like that's coming from deep within you as well.

But do you feel like you need, you still needed someone to go, you know what, it's going to be okay.

Yes.

On the other side of you doing this, it's going to be okay.

Yes.

I just needed someone to like help me to push me.

You needed a yes man.

I needed a yes man, yeah.

You're in the thick of MasterChef Series 18.

I am.

You were there at the beginning and now you've returned for the last three seasons as a host and judge.

What's it like to come back as host?

Do you feel like you've got more empathy for the contestants as a judge because you've been on the other side?

Yeah, definitely.

You know, half the time I kind of, like, am fantasising being on the other side again because there's, like, nothing quite as magical as that period in my life.

I think being on the show was such a huge, hugely impactful thing to do because I think the one thing that I think people don't really quite get about the show is people go into the show...

And I think as an adult, there's very few spaces where you feel safe to actually talk about your dreams and kind of have this moment that you had when you were much younger.

And you can shed all these responsibilities, all these obligations, like whether you're a wife or a mother, all these things that you're now defined by, you can shed and just kind of indulge in this thing that you love with other people that are also very passionate about.

And you get to dream and just kind of be a kid again, you know, because all your responsibilities are sort of left at home thanks to all the amazing spouses and family members that, like, hold the forts.