Julie Goodwin is an Australian cook, cookbook author, radio presenter, and television personality best known for being the first-ever winner of MasterChef Australia. Following her notable win in the television cooking competition, Goodwin has gone on to have a successful career in the food industry. Although she is famous amongst fans of MasterChef and Australian audiences, there are many things that people do not know about her. So, what are some interesting facts about Julie Goodwin you might not know? Here are some fun Julie Goodwin facts to enjoy.
Julie Goodwin Facts: Her Early and Personal Life
Where Was Julie Goodwin Born?
Julie Goodwin was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on October 31, 1970.
Is Julie Goodwin Married?
Julie Goodwin married her husband, Michael, in 1995. They spent their honeymoon in Thailand.
Does Julie Goodwin Have Children?
Julie Goodwin has three sons: Tom, Paddy and Joe. She also has one granddaughter.
Where Does Julie Goodwin Live?
The MasterChef winner and her family live on the Central Coast of New South Wales in Australia.
Where Did Julie Goodwin Work Before Appearing in MasterChef Australia?
According to Celebrity Speakers, Julie Goodwin had various jobs before winning MasterChef Australia. She presented workshops across Australia and worked in a juvenile detention centre. After having her children, she and her husband started an IT company.
Julie Goodwin Facts: Her Time on MasterChef Australia
She Was the First Ever Winner of MasterChef
In 2009, Julie Goodwin became MasterChef Australia’s first winner, with Poh Ling Yeow finishing in second position. At the time, the series was presented by the original judges: Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston, and George Calombaris.
Did Julie Goodwin Return to MasterChef Australia?
In 2022, Julie Goodwin returned as a contestant to MasterChef Australia for series 14, which was the Fans & Favourites series. She finished in fifth position. Fellow former contestant Andy Allen, Scottish chef Jock Zonfrillo, and food writer Melissa Leong presented the series. Former contestant Billie McKay won the competition. Other former contestants included Sashi Cheliah, Christina Batista and Sarah Todd. Goodwin also returned to MasterChef Australia multiple times as a guest judge.
How Many Mystery Boxes and Invention Tests Did Julie Goodwin Win?
In season one, Julie Goodwin won only one mystery box in week six of the series. When she returned in season 14, Goodwin won two mystery boxes as part of a team or duo but none as an individual contestant. Goodwin won one invention test in her first series alongside fellow contestant Justine Schofield.
Did Julie Goodwin Win an Immunity Pin?
Julie Goodwin did not win an immunity pin during the first season as it did not exist in the competition at that time. She eventually won her first immunity pin when she returned to the competition in season 14.
Who Were Some of the Guest Judges?
When Julie Goodwin competed in the first season of MasterChef Australia, she had the opportunity to compete in challenges set by multiple celebrity chefs. The first of these was Manu Feildel, a chef, restaurateur, and the presenter and judge of My Kitchen Rules. Other guest judges included Adriano Zumbo, Matt Moran, and Curtis Stone. The line-up also included the hosts of the UK version of the cooking competition, Gregg Wallace and John Torode. In season 14, Goodwin once again had the chance to meet some of the food industry’s heavyweights. These included Maggie Beer, Shannon Bennett, Marco Pierre White, Peter Gilmore, Kirsten Tibballs, and Heston Blumenthal.
Julie Goodwin Facts: Her Life After MasterChef Australia
How Many Cookbooks Has Goodwin Published?
In total, Julie Goodwin has Published 12 books. Part of the prize for winning MasterChef Australia was a book deal. A year after winning the competition, Julie Goodwin published her first book, Our Family Table. The first chapter was left blank for people to add their own notes, recipes, and photographs. It contained some of the recipes Goodwin cooked on MasterChef. She has since published a further 11 books, including seven stand-alone cookbooks and a series of four books with 20/20 in the title. The 20/20 refers to meals you can make for less than $20 and in under 20 minutes.
Has She Appeared on Television Other Than MasterChef Australia?
In 2016, Julie Goodwin competed in All-Star-Family Feud and was the team captain. Other members of her team included fellow former MasterChef contestants Dani Venn, Emma Dean, and Brent Owens. Goodwin has also appeared in four episodes of The Cook Up with Adam Liaw, three episodes of The Project, three episodes of Can of Worms, and episodes of Everyday Gourmet with Justine Schofield, Today, Hughesy We Have a Problem, Would I Lie to You?, and The Hundred with Andy Lee. Goodwin was also a competitor in the first series of the Australian version of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
Does Julie Goodwin Have Her Own Television Series?
Julie Goodwin was the host of Home Cooked! With Julie Goodwin. The cooking series aired for 13 episodes in 2010.
What About the Radio?
Julie Goodwin began presenting a breakfast radio show called Rabbit and Julie Goodwin in 2015. It aired on Star 104.5 on the Central Coast until December 2019.
Are There Any Julie Goodwin Controversies?
Although her professional life has been a huge success since winning MasterChef Australia, not everything in her life is rosy. She was charged with mid-range drunk driving in 2018 when she was two times over the limit. After pleading guilty, she lost her license for six months and received a $600 fine. Julie Goodwin has also battled mental health issues, which is something she has spoken about openly during television appearances and in interviews.
What Is Julie Goodwin Doing Now?
Since 2014, Julie Goodwin has been running a cooking school. She also spends time appearing on various television and radio programs and continues to write cookbooks.
What Is Julie Goodwin’s Cooking Style?
Julie Goodwin is known for her rustic, generous, and delicious cooking style. Everything she cooks is from the heart with love. She is best known for her amazing roast dinners. However, she is not afraid to cook using international influences. During her time competing in MasterChef, she often cooked Italian or Asian dishes to serve to the judges.
We hope you enjoyed reading our Julie Goodwin facts!