MasterChef Australia fans couldn’t contain their excitement as the contestants for the upcoming 12th season were announced.

Some of the show’s most loved contestants are making a comeback, with fan favourites Poh Ling Yeow, Callum Hann and Hayden Quinn being amongst them.

The new season will also be the first without judges George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan. Instead, they’ll be replaced by Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen.

“Smart ploy by the producers bringing back old favourites to overcome the angst of having new judges,” one fan tweeted. “What a line-up.”

“So many people I adore and admire!” wrote another fan. “It’s gonna be epic!”

Another person wrote: “I was prepared to give it a miss this year (without Matt, Gary & George) but this line-up may be the perfect lure for me.”

Poh Ling Yeow is just one of the many former contestants returning to the kitchen.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for 10 years and now I’m back,” she said. “I have a little bit of unfinished business.”

Season two runner-up, Callum Hann, said: “Everyone who’s here is at the top of their game. This is going to be really, really tough. There’s cookbook authors, TV presenters, restaurant owners and those who just missed out.”

Here’s the full line-up of past contestants:

• Amina Elshafei, NSW / Season Four – placed 11th

• Ben Milbourne, Tasmania / Season Four – placed 5th

• Ben Ungermann, Queensland / Season Nine runner-up

• Brendan Pang, Western Australia / Season 10 – placed 9th

• Callum Hann, South Australia / Season Two runner-up

• Chris Badenoch, Western Australia / Season One – placed 3rd

• Courtney Roulston, NSW / Season Two – placed 5th

• Dani Venn, Victoria / Season Three – placed 4th

• Emelia Jackson, Victoria / Season Six – placed 3rd

• Harry Foster, Queensland / Season Eight – placed 3rd

• Hayden Quinn, NSW / Season Three – placed 6th

• Jess Liemantara, Victoria / Season 10 – placed 4th

• Khanh Ong, Victoria / Season 10 – placed 3rd

• Laura Sharrad, South Australia / Season Six runner-up

• Lynton Tapp, Victoria / Season Five runner-up

• Poh Ling Yeow, South Australia / Season One runner-up

• Reece Hignell, NSW / Season 10 – placed 6th

• Reynold Poernomo, NSW / Season Seven – placed 4th

• Rose Adam, South Australia / Season Seven – placed 10th

• Sarah Clare, Tasmania / Season 10 – placed 10th

• Sarah Tiong, NSW / Season Nine – placed 6th

• Simon Toohey, Victoria / Season 11 – placed 3rd

• Tessa Boersma, Queensland / Season 11 runner-up

• Tracy Collins, South Australia / Season Six – placed 5th