Melissa Leong's shock career move with Claudia Karvan is revealed amid rumours she could return to MasterChef Australia

Melissa Leong 's new career move with Claudia Karvan has been revealed amid rumours she could return to MasterChef Australia .

The food critic, 42, will be appearing on screen in a brand new documentary alongside the Australian actress, 52, in a move away from her cookery background.

The duo will be taking part in new SBS series Great Australian Road Trips alongside comedians Steph Tisdell and Nazeem Hussain.

Inspired by hit 2023 series Great Australian Walks, Claudia and Steph will team up in one car with Melissa and Nazeem in another vehicle to reveal untold Aussie stories.

The group will travel far and wide around Australia to learn about the nation's hidden history and unknown connections one pitstop at a time.

Also appearing on the series will be the likes of actress Rachel Griffiths , theatre star Jacki Weaver and TV presenter Marc Fennell, among many others.

The news was revealed at SBS's 2025 Upfronts event on Wednesday, which detailed the channel's programming schedule for 2025 - which is also SBS's 50th anniversary.

Melissa and Claudia both attended the event and looked as glamorous as ever as they stepped out to celebrate their exciting new project.

Dessert Masters judge Melissa oozed sophistication in a vibrant red dress with long sleeves and a pleated skirt, which she teamed with black peep-toe sandals.

She accessorised with an array of silver jewellery and added to her chic ensemble with a slick of bold red lipstick.

Meanwhile, Bump creator Claudia looked equally as elegant in a plum wrap-around gown with a daring split which gave a flash of her toned legs.

She added some extra height to her frame with a pair of gold heels and accessorised with a dainty silver necklace and hoop earrings.

They were also joined by their documentary co-star Rachel, who cut a smart figure in a black suit and a patterned T-shirt.

She appeared to have injured her wrist as she sported a black splint on one arm during the outing.

Melissa's exciting new TV project comes amid rumours she could be lining up a return to MasterChef Australia.

Melissa left MasterChef Australia last year under a cloud of suspicion about an alleged feud with her former co-host Andy Allen, who still serves as a judge.

'Melissa told Ten that she'll go back to MasterChef Australia when Andy Allen goes,' a TV insider told Daily Mail Australia.

'I think the idea of returning to what the show once was for her seems a bit daunting and the only way Melissa would ever return is if the whole format was revamped.'

Melissa shocked fans when she shared news of her departure to Instagram one day before Network Ten's 2024 Upfronts.

'The changing of the guard is one I always planned to embrace, and I'm so glad to do that on my terms, today,' she penned in a statement last October.

Melissa's departure came after claims she had been axed following a string of publicised off-camera dramas.

She infamously had a blow up with the program's hair and make-up team along with a substitute freelance hairstylist in 2022.

'Andy has no beef with Leong,' the source told Daily Mail Australia. 'But he previously expressed his former colleague wasted a lot of time in hair and make-up.

'He felt her control over what was filmed was compromised by her perfectionism.'

Andy returned to the show this year alongside three new judges - media darling Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Melbourne food critic Sofia Levin.

Melissa has since gone on to take on a new role on MasterChef's spin-off show Dessert Masters co-judging alongside French-Swiss pastry chef Amaury Guichon.

Dessert Masters' first season saw a group of pastry chefs compete for a $100,000 prize and deliver a ratings salve for the network in the highly competitive reality TV market.

The premiere episode had 451,000 Australians tuning in across all the major cities and viewers heaped praise on the TV veteran's role on the show.

Word inside Ten is Dessert Masters will return in 2025, but the network has bought itself some time by delaying a formal announcement until after the second season has aired.

'Last year, there was a strong appetite for the debut of Dessert Masters,' a Ten spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'In 2024, we are delighted to plate up second helpings.'