MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin has been forced to withdraw from her highly anticipated TV comeback on Dancing With The Stars after suffering a devastating injury during rehearsals.
Sky News host James Macpherson says MasterChef has gone “woke” with contestants cooking with carbon-neutral beef.
The MasterChef winner intended to make her dance floor debut on the 2024 season of DWTS but was absent from Sunday night’s opening episode after “something snapped” in her leg during final rehearsals.
Goodwin, 53, was rushed to hospital after suffering a Grade 2 calf muscle tear just minutes before her first performance with professional dance partner Andrey Gorbunov.
“(The injury) was so sudden and brutal that it took my breath away,” she told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.
Goodwin failed to make her dance floor debut on Dancing With The Stars 2024. Picture: Supplied/Channel 7
“It was devastating. I’m absolutely gutted.”
The 53-year-old mum felt “something snapped” during dance rehearsals for the jive when Goodwin “jumped” on Gorbunov.
“I was jumping on poor Andrey here,” she explained to host Sonia Kruger during the episode after failing to take the dance floor.
“Something snapped and fortunately, it was my leg and not his back. It was my calf muscle.”
Goodwin felt “something snap” during dance rehearsals for the jive when she “jumped” on Gorbunov. Photo: Supplied/Channel 7
The injury has cast doubt on Goodwin returning to the competition for 2024, in what would have marked the beloved chef’s primetime TV return after suffering mental health issues.
Goodwin shot to national fame after winning the inaugural season of Network Ten’s MasterChef Australia in 2009 and became a successful celebrity cookbook author.
However, the mum-of-three was secretly battling mental health demons as her star rose, which culminated in a mid-range drink driving offence in 2018 and an attempt on her own life two years later.
If Goodwin does withdraw, the scratching will leave nine remaining stars competing for the mirror ball trophy on the reality juggernaut, which returned to Seven in 2021 following a two-season stint on Network Ten.
The moment Goodwin suffered a nasty calf injury during rehearsals. Picture: Supplied/Channel 7
This year’s contestants also include the likes of Better Homes and Gardens DIY presenter Adam Dovile, SAS host Ant Middleton, Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris and former WAG turned fashion designer Nadia Bartel.
Nobody was eliminated during Sunday night’s opening episode, with Aussie actress Lisa McCune and dance partner Ian Waite topping the leader board with a score of 30.
Retired AFL player Ben Cousins and dance partner Siobhan Power are currently sitting on the bottom of the leader board with a measly score of 14 and could be in danger of elimination next Sunday after the remaining five celebrities take the dance floor.