MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen has revealed the 'strict' rule change that has completely changed the cooking competition.
In a new interview, the 37-year-old recalled the show's early days when the cast lived together in one Big Brother-like house.
Andy, who won the 2012 season, said that competitors 'wouldn't cope' now with the intense regulations he was subjected to.
'We talk about it all the time, because it's very different these days,' he told Pedestrian, adding that his season was the last that used the 'Big Brother' format.
The chef, who joined the judging team on MasterChef Australia in 2020, also recalled the many rules that cast members had to observe.
The electrician-turned-restaurateur said that cast members were not allowed to watch TV or use their phones in the house.
In a new interview, the 37-year-old recalled the show's early days when the cast lived together in one Big Brother-like house.
'To give you a bit of an insight, when we say you live with the other contestants, we're talking 24 people that range from the age of around 19 through to the mid-50s,' he said.
'Males, females, all walks of life. Back then it was a lot more strict.
'So, we literally went from the house to the set and we were bound in those four walls. We weren't allowed to go out and have dinners.'
Andy said that the rules allowed contestants to immerse themselves in the experience and focus their energies on the competition.
'I don't think people would cope these days,' he said, adding that it brought the best in the cast and 'sometimes the worst'.
'Now, it is really up to you how much you want to dip your toe in.'
These days, cast members live in an apartment block during filming, with two competitors sharing a room.
Producer Marty Benson confirmed to the publication that cast members can return home on weekends.
He also said that competitors have 'dinner parties' to practice and are also given access to their phones.
Andy was just 23 when he was crowned the winner of the show after defeating Julia Taylor in the MasterChef Australia final in 2012.
Audra Morrice placed third.
Andy, who previously confessed he was the 'weakest cook' among his MasterChef group, has since become one of the show's most successful graduates.
In addition to taking home the $250,000 prize and becoming head chef at Three Blue Ducks, Andy has penned a book and produced his own YouTube channel.
The Three Blue Ducks restaurant brand, which Andy co-owns, now has five locations, including Tullamarine in Melbourne, Byron Bay, Rosebery in Sydney, and two eateries in regional NSW -- Nimbo and Bellingen.
In November, Andy announced he was expecting his first child with his wife, Alex.
The pair, who tied the knot in 2022, welcomed a boy, Jude Jackson, last month.