While sparks were flying between Masterchef favourite Chris Badenoch and a fellow contestant, the 41-year-old beer merchant's long-term partner was seemingly unaware of trouble brewing in their relationship.
Homaxi Irani, who met budding Melbourne chef Badenoch 15 years ago when they worked together, told New Weekly magazine she was looking forward to having him back home.
"It's been a long, long time, it's coming up to four months, so it's really lonely and difficult," Homaxi was quoted as saying in the magazine's July 13 edition.
"Not having him around the house for such a long period of time has been really difficult, but over time in some ways you get used to it."
Badenoch has insisted his split with Irani ended "independently" of his romance with Julia Jenkins, 23.
But Irani has refused to comment on whether Badenoch hooked up with Jenkins before their split, telling the Daily Telegraph only that the magazine interview took place "some time" before last week.
Jenkins, who was booted out of the competition last night, admitted she and Badenoch had been on "a few dates".
The young ex-marketing assistant, who is also from Melbourne, broke up with her partner of three years while competing in the series.
''We've both recently come out of serious, long-term relationships so that's where it's at the moment. Most of the stuff that's been written is a massive exaggeration,'' Jenkins told the newspaper.
Badenoch remains one of the favourites to win the competition and take home $100,000 and a cookbook deal.
On tonight's show Badenoch will face off against the three remaining contestants — Poh Ling Yeow, Justine Schofield and Julie Goodwin — in a pressure test challenge.
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