Matt Preston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matt Preston
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Preston in 2016
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| Born | 21 July 1961 London, UK
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| Years active | 1990−present |
| Spouse(s) |
Emma Preston
(m. 1999) |
| Children | 3 |
Matt Preston (born 21 July 1961) is an English-Australian food critic, writer, and television host. He is famous for his love of food and his unique style, especially his colorful suits and cravats (a type of necktie).
Preston writes a weekly food column for newspapers across Australia. He is also a senior editor for the popular food magazines Delicious. and Taste. He has written several best-selling cookbooks.
Many people know him as a judge on the cooking show MasterChef Australia from 2009 to 2019. He also appeared as a judge on My Kitchen Rules in 2022.
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Early Life and Education
Matt Preston was born in London, England. His father, Antony Preston, was a naval historian and journalist. He went to a boarding school called Worth School in West Sussex.
After high school, he studied Politics and Government at the University of Kent. During his time in London as a young man, he was also a DJ and played in a punk rock band.
Career Journey
Preston's career in writing began in London. In 1993, he moved to Australia. He first wrote about popular Australian TV shows like Neighbours and Home and Away for British magazines.
He soon began writing about food. In 1996, he started reviewing restaurants for a Melbourne magazine. By 2000, he was writing for The Age, a major newspaper. He became known for his fun and honest reviews of cafes and restaurants.
Today, Preston is one of Australia's most famous food writers. His weekly column is read by millions of people. He continues to share his passion for food through his writing in Stellar, Delicious, and Taste magazines.
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Judging on MasterChef Australia
In 2009, Preston became a judge on the first season of MasterChef Australia alongside Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris. The show became a huge hit, searching for the best home cook in the country. Preston was known for his thoughtful critiques and his exciting way of describing food.
He was a judge for eleven seasons of MasterChef Australia. He also appeared on spin-off shows like Celebrity MasterChef Australia, Junior MasterChef Australia, and MasterChef Australia All-Stars. In 2013, he hosted MasterChef Australia: The Professionals with famous chef Marco Pierre White.
During his time on the show, Preston had a public disagreement with Marco Pierre White. This led to White not appearing on MasterChef for several years.
In 2019, after eleven seasons, Preston, Mehigan, and Calombaris left MasterChef Australia. The network and the judges could not agree on a new contract. New judges took their place for the show's twelfth season in 2020.
Other TV Appearances
Besides MasterChef, Preston has been a guest on many other TV shows. He has appeared on The Project, Studio 10, and The Living Room. He has even had small acting roles in shows like Offspring and Neighbours.
In 2020, he and Gary Mehigan teamed up with chef Manu Feildel for a new show called Plate of Origin. In 2022, he joined My Kitchen Rules as a judge, working alongside Manu Feildel and Nigella Lawson.
In 2022, Preston surprised audiences when he was revealed as "Gnome" on The Masked Singer Australia. In 2023, he competed on Dancing with the Stars, but had to leave the competition early due to an ankle injury.
Books by Matt Preston
Preston has shared his love for cooking in several popular cookbooks.
- Cravat-A-Licious (2009)
- Matt Preston's 100 Best Recipes (2012)
- Matt Preston's Fast Fresh and Unbelievably Delicious (2013)
- Matt Preston's Cook Book (2014)
- Matt Preston's Simple Secrets (2015)
- Matt Preston's Yummy, Easy, Quick (2017)
- Big Mouth (2023)
Awards and Recognition
Matt Preston has won many awards for his work as a writer and TV personality.
- 2003: Best New Writer award from the Food Media Club of Australia.
- 2008: Named Food Journalist of the Year at the Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards.
- 2010: Won the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent (Male) at the Logies.
- 2011: Won the Awesome Oldie award at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
- He is also listed in the 2011 edition of Who's Who in Australia.
