Dear Andy, Jock and Melissa,

Well, it’s started for you. When we started, no one had any expectations and we were allowed to develop in relative peace for the first year. I’m sorry that this will not be the case for you.

There are 19 million MasterChef Australia fans around the world who are waiting to see how you go. I don’t envy you that pressure. If they fall in love with you, though, you’ll find them to be the most wonderfully supportive people you could ever meet. I’d like to offer some advice, which you can, of course, ignore. Your jobs, after all, are not to be the new Gary, George and Matt but to be the first yous.

YOU’LL BE HELD TO ACCOUNT

Now you’re tall poppies, your every move will be watched. I found this made me a better person – you have to try to act with generosity, love and probity at all times. So always tip, pay your dues and avoid confrontation. You’ve seen what can happen if you don’t.

BE REAL

If you lie, you’ll be caught out. If you act pious, sections of the media will want to prove it’s an act. So always be genuine, especially with yourself.

BE YOURSELF

Don’t get trapped into playing a role that isn’t you. The most important people in your life are your family and the friends you’ve always had. They’ll keep you on the straight and narrow. You want them to recognise the person they see on the telly – ideally as a better version of the person they know.

media_camera Matt Preston: “Wear something magnificent every day”

SOME PEOPLE WILL HATE YOU

The perks of being on a TV show are huge but, on the downside, inevitably some people will hate you no matter what you do or who you are. Maybe you remind them of an ex or they just hate what you wear. Accept this, move on and, again, avoid confrontation.

NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS AFTER 10.30PM

The best advice I received was from Australian Idol’s Dicko, who said it was best to leave the bar or hotel before the kids there got too liquored up. It only takes one idiot to ruin your night, or possibly even your life.

STICK TO YOUR PRINCIPLES

The worst dish always has to go home. That was the MasterChef rule for all our seasons. You’ll need to keep each other honest on this, especially when one of the better cooks has produced a stinker. The food, not the person, should always be the deciding factor.

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR CONTESTANTS

The wise man behind the first seasons of MasterChef always said, “If you don’t love them all, then why would a viewer invest 13 weeks of their life watching them?”. He’s a smart cookie.

If it doesn’t hurt when you send home contestants in the top 12 you need to work harder to connect.

This season being “all stars”, with former successful contestants back to compete, you should love every one of them and take as much care, even though the stakes are different to a typical MasterChef season.

NEVER DROP A PLATE

Obviously (editor’s note: Regrets, Matt?). In fact, avoid any “it seemed like a good idea at the time” moments that can backfire.

We called them “ice cream” moments after the time George agreed to have his picture taken licking an ice cream.

When it was published all his mates sent him saucily altered versions of the image. (Meanwhile, I note with a mixture of distress and awe that my “disgustingly good” plate-dropping moment has recently started popping up on T-shirts and memes.)

SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THE CREW

No matter how hard you think you’re working, no matter how tough your day, it’s guaranteed to be less than half as hard as that of the crew. Avoid being a jerk. If you are, be big enough to apologise. We did. Mostly.

WEAR SOMETHING MAGNIFICENT EVERY DAY

Just one of you – probably not you, Andy.

YOU’RE NOT SAVING LIVES

Remember, you’re just a judge on a TV show in Australia and it’s only food. Behind your back the crew are probably referring to you as “warm props” or “meat puppets” anyway.

BAN LAZY WORDS

This is something Nigella taught us. Words like “delicious” (editor’s note: proceed with caution), “nice” and “tasty” are lazy and don’t tell the viewer anything.

AND A NOTE TO SELF

I must remember to read this and give it to Gary and Manu before we film Plate of Origin. We all need reminding.

And a disclaimer: It took me years to learn this. To anyone who encountered me early on,

I’m sorry. I was pretty rubbish when I started. I never really got much better, according to some.

The new season of MasterChef starts on Easter Monday.

Find more of Matt’s musings about the show at delicious.com.au.