Matt Preston

Current and former stars of MasterChef gathered with Network Ten executives, talent and media to launch the 2013 series at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, where the new kitchen is located, last night. Judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and a slimline George Calombaris goofed around with the girls vs. boys signs that represented the show’s new weekly themed format — yesterday Gary told us how the battle of the sexes theme, which has been featured prominently in the MasterChef promos (and drawn some criticism), sets up future themes, like Italian week, Middle Eastern week and the like. Some of those themes also had dedicated food stations around the kitchen, like a stall filled with cartoon-like desserts to represent Kids week.

Last year’s winner Andy Allen mingled with 2011 series favourite Hayden Quinn, while Chrissie Swan made the event a mother-daughter affair by bringing her two-month-old baby, Peggy, along for the child-friendly night. The new group of contestants were also on hand for the launch — you can get to know them when MasterChef returns to TV on Sunday night.

Early start, lots of writing, pretty pictures, lots of writing, fashion showing, lots of writing, celebrity interview, lots of writing, beauty delivery, lots of writing, event, bed, repeat. That's pretty much the gist of our daily lives here at Sugar... but of course we let our hair down, too! This week, FabSugar editor Ali was lucky enough to sit down with iconic designer Diane von Furstenberg, PopSugar's Jess got up close and personal with all the stars at Sony Foundation Wharf4Ward and BellaSugar had a play with some particularly special new products that hit our doorstep. There was much more that kept us busy — click through the gallery to see what else we got up to!

After months of positive buzz thanks to a successful debut at the Cannes Film Festival that included a 10-minute standing ovation, the leading ladies of The Sapphires finally had the opportunity to screen the Australian film for family and friends when it opened the Melbourne International Film Festival last night. Jessica Mauboy, Deborah Mailman, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell frocked up for the red carpet event and posed for some photos with the women they portray in the movie. Jessica said they were more nervous about showing the musical to loved ones than an international audience: “I guess for us four girls, too, we’re just really waiting to see the reaction of our family, their faces.” Inside the cinema, the girls took front row seats. Other guests at the opening night of MIFF included Geoffrey Rush, Matt Preston and Melissa Bergland. The Sapphires opens Aug. 9.

The launch event for MasterChef 2012 brought together the show’s judges, former contestants from the first three years, foodies and media at Luminare in South Melbourne last night. The dinner featured gorgeous table settings and the menu included dishes that had been inspired by previous contestants. Among the guests were newly-crowned Cleo Bachelor Hayden Quinn, Michael Weldon, Kate Bracks, Dani Venn, Alana Lowes and Ellie Paxton-Hall from last year’s series, and judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, who hammed it up for the cameras. Matt Moran will return to the show in a recurring guest mentor role. The launch also revealed the show’s premiere date: Sunday May 6, which puts it against Channel Nine’s ratings hit The Voice and Channel Seven’s Dancing With the Stars. Network Ten’s Chief Programming Officer David Mott promised that MasterChef will return with a “focus on real food, with real people, telling real stories.” And Jamie Oliver!

Australia’s leading tennis players swapped their signature sportswear for a glamour-filled night at the Australian Tennis Awards in Melbourne last night. Held at the Crown Palladium, the event brought out Lleyton Hewitt and his wife Bec, Samantha Stosur, Jelena Dokic, Bernard Tomic and more tennis pros. Samantha, who won the 2011 US Open earlier this year, was awarded the Newcombe Medal for the second year in the row, marking her as the best Australian tennis player. She said during her acceptance speech, “It’s such an honour to win the Newcombe Medal again this year and to have so many legendary Australian players here in the room makes it even more special.” Lleyton received the Spirit of Tennis Award. MasterChef’s Matt Preston was also in attendance, while The X Factor judge Guy Sebastian provided some entertainment.

The Australian Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards fun continued from the orange carpet and show right into the press room, where winners and presenters posed with either their prized blimp trophies or cute ‘I Heart KCA’ signs. Cody Simpson took home three awards on the night and was snapped with one of his honours, while gorgeous ladies Erin McNaught, Samara Weaving and Samantha Harris got cute with the KCA sign. WWE star CM Punk showed off a tough pose after being slimed, and The X Factor judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte got changed into an architectural black dress after her performance during the show. Timomatic, Stan Walker and Matt Preston were among the guys who got cheeky in the press room — click through to see all the snaps!