The second Elimination Challenge of MasterChef All Stars saw our contestants getting clever with chicken.

Given one whole bird each, the task required more than just cooking a single great dish; with three potential rounds to contest, it also meant resisting putting all their eggs in one basket by using all the meat at once.

Given 30 minutes to complete their first creation, the All Stars raced to deliver the perfect poultry dish, with Dani, Marion and Poh achieving exactly that and living to cook another day.

The others cooked-off in round two; same rules, less time. With only 20 minutes to play with, the action was frantic but the dishes fabulous, particularly those belonging to Callum, Chris and Justine, who joined their peers on the balcony to watch the climactic round.

With only 10 minutes to prepare a dish that would spare them from elimination, Hayden, Jonathan and Julie turned on the flair and plated up three dishes so good that Gary and George were left with a culinary conundrum. Would Hayden’s Southern Fried Chicken with Coleslaw and Dipping Sauce win the day? Perhaps Jono’s Jamie Oliver-inspired Pan Fried Thigh Fillet on a Dressing Board? Or would Julie’s Deep Fried Chicken Wings with Vietnamese Salad be declared the victor?

After much deliberation, the judges decided it was Julie’s dish that was marginally superior in the taste stakes, securing her the final safe spot in the competition. To ensure he didn’t go home empty-handed, Jonathan was given $5000 for his charity OzHarvest, matching the amount Hayden had won for his cause BoysTown.

Having added more magical moments to their MasterChef legacies, these popular All Stars once again waved their goodbyes to the famous kitchen.