EW has confirmed that Bastianich is exiting the franchise after MasterChef Junior‘s third season. Producers are still searching for someone to replace him alongside returning judges Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot.

“Joe has played an integral role in the success of both MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, and we all appreciate his incredible culinary insight, sense of humor and passion,” Fox said in a joint statement with producers Shine America and One Potato Two Potato. “He will always remain a member of the Masterchef family.”