John Torode returns Down Under for an Australian odyssey

John Torode is the Wizard of Oz!

Masterchef star John Torode literally got a taste of home for his new series.

And he’s told The Sunday Post that after more than two decades on these shores: “I got to become an Aussie again.”

John Torode’s Australia is the show and the celebrity chef says he’s been taking a pasting for his accent.

“To Australians I sound like the poshest git in the world now,” laughs John.

“My family laugh at me all the time. And there are words like ‘million’ and ‘park’ that people laugh at over here. I can’t say anything different, though, or my family will shoot me.

“The longest I’ve ever been out there was three weeks, so to have six weeks to settle and speak with a proper accent again was brilliant.”

The 10-episode series, which starts tomorrow on Good Food, sees John retrace the flavours, people and places of his childhood that inspired his culinary passion.

Those memories were especially of the gran who brought him up and taught him to cook.

“My mother died when I was very young and I lived with my nana from the age of five until I was 10,” he reveals.

“We lived 1000 miles from my dad and I used to love sitting on her apron strings and just watching her cook. That’s where I picked up the basics of how to roast a chook or make a loaf.”

So did losing his mum leave a lasting impact?

“I think it does shape you as you have to fill in that bit,” he says quietly.

“I dare say psychologists or psychiatrists have got something more to say about it.

“But in my world I think I’ve done all right. I’m pretty well adjusted or as much as most Aussie blokes are well adjusted.

“It definitely shaped me because I had to become pretty independent. My father taught us to be independent from a very young age and I think that’s a great trait to have.”

Years of fronting ratings hit MasterChef has made John one of the most recognisable faces on the box.

He admits the attention that comes from being in the public eye “used to really worry me”.

But while he insists he doesn’t have an issue with it any more, it did mean his marriage split and subsequent relationship with Celebrity MasterChef champ Lisa Faulkner was headline news.

In that case, are you happily settled again Mr Torode?

“Romantically? Where does that come from? We’re supposed to be talking Crocodile Dundee!” he smiles.

“I probably understand what you’re talking about and I’m having a very nice time thanks.”

John Torode’s Australia is new and exclusive on Good Food, weeknights at 8pm from Monday, March 3.