Heartwarming / MasterChef Australia

• Season 3:
  • While in the midst of a pressure test, one of the contestants, named John (who has cerebral palsy, mind you), had a very bad run, dropping cakes, burning sugar, and when the time ran out, his work was barely half-completed. So instead of serving his bad creation, he brought up a perfectly clean plate, saying he wasn't going to present his failure. Matt Preston then turned to the other two judges and Maggie Beer, guest judge, and asked them if they've ever created a dish that they've thrown away because they weren't happy with it. All of them said yes. Preston then commended John on his bravery, and Maggie rushed forward and gave him a hug.
  • The following challenge involved preparing a dish with crocodile meat, a foodstuff which most of the contestants knew nothing about and thought they were going to ruin by cooking it incorrectly. John, however, was cautious and careful, and brought up the best dish of the round, with Matt Preston claiming it was the best cooked crocodile he ever had. He then snapped a pic with his cameraphone to send to Maggie.
• Season 4,
  • The finale, in which terrifying pastry chef Adriano Zumbo, the bete noir of all Australian competitors, offered runner-up Julia (a pastry specialist) fulsome compliments and a paid apprenticeship after observing her in action during a dessert challenge - and after she was pipped at the post for the win by a meat-and-three-veg type who had never cooked a dessert in the competition unless forced to by the format. This sort of prize for the runner-up is not common. Julia, known for her brisk and comparatively emotionless demeanour, practically cried on-screen.
  • About halfway through the competition, Emma and Ben have misidentified types of cakes and are set to go into an elimination dessert challenge together. Every person safe from the challenge plus Emma plus the three judges saw what was coming next - Ben offers to forfeit his way out of the challenge and Masterchef itself to save Emma. He said she was there to win the competition and go as far as she could, and he was simply there to learn and he could learn elsewhere. Before the judges even rule on whether Ben can do that Beau offers to take Emma's spot in the elimination challenge. The judges knock him back, and tell Ben that even if he pulls out Emma will still be cooking in an elimination. Emma is 19 and wants to open a dessert cafe, Ben's pet cuisine is Mexican and has no idea about sweets. They continue into the challenge, Ben puts up a better dish and eliminates his 'little sister' from the competition. That Ben would have been willing to walk out for the sake of a young girl he'd known only since the beginning of the comp, makes gentle fun of her when she gets flustered and seems more upset about winning than he would have about losing speaks volumes about why he was a sentimental favourite that season.
• During the Power Apron week in Season 7, the post team challenge elimination round gives Ashleigh, the holder of the Power Apron, the chance to save one person from the losing team from elimination. After much stress and hesitation, she finally chose Stephen. When the judges asked her why, she explained about how Stephen had been struggling with self-doubt, given his shaky performance in the last couple of challenges, and that she wants to spare him the distress, as Ashleigh herself have been dealing with the exact same issue throughout the entire competition — a reasoning that can only be described as beautifully thoughtful.
• Season 8
  • The 2016 series features a pair of brother and sister who, despite the advertised Sibling Rivalry, are actually very close to each other. The sister, Theresa, was sent to the first elimination round. When she was declared safe by the judges, her brother Jimmy cried Tears of Joy and actually seemed happier than Vanessa herself over the fact that she's still in the competition.
  • In episode 12, fan favourite contestant Reynold Poernomo returns to guest-judge the Pressure Test, now a professional chef who runs a successful dessert bar with his brothers. There's something very sweet about fact that he's finally got to live out his dream, and enjoying his life in the culinary world. Doubles as an awesome moment, as this highlights how far he's come since entering the competition in 2015 (even though he did not win it) — only the best chefs are usually brought in for such events.
  • During the Power Apron week, Anastasia was given the power over the Second Chance Challenge to give one of the returning contestants the opportunity to pick an additional ingredient that they can cook with. She picked Theresa, whom she was good friends with. Theresa used this opportunity to add desiccated coconut into the ingredient selection, eventually winning the challenge and the power apron with her dish. In the next episode, Theresa returned the favour by choosing Anastasia to sit out the Team Challenge, which means that she would be guaranteed a safety from elimination.
  • In the last round of the Grand Finals, Matt was overwhelmed by the pressure of doing Heston's 91-step "verjuice in egg" dessert, and was looking quite lost in doing his final steps. Elena, his opponent, saw him struggle and immediately rushed to his side to help him, even though this could potentially cost her the chances of winning the competition. However, despite having to leave her own work to help Matt, Elena still managed to create the better dessert, earning her the title of Masterchef 2016.
• Season 12
  • In the first episode, all the returning contestants from previous seasons are given free rein to cook whatever they want to demonstrate that they have what it takes to win the competition. Jess tries to create a complex dessert with 9 or so elements that's supposed to look like a flower, but fails to make the petals bloom right and is so upset about it that she's practically in tears when she brought the plate to the judges. Jock immediately comes around to give her a hug and tells her that it's alright. During the tasting, the judges have nothing but kind words to her, saying that the flavours are delicious and no one comments about its flawed presentation. When Jess goes back to her station, all the other contestants give her a hug of support.
  • Episode 12: It is a Twist Week Pressure Test, and 2 hours into the cook, the judges take away the recipes from the contestants, forcing them to finish Darren Purchese's incredibly complex dessert from memory. Amina, who is lagging behind, starts to melt down because she still has so many to do and seems ready to just give up until Jess (who is quite ahead with her work) comes over and tells her how to make the mango mousse. This gives Amina a boost of confidence and allows her to finish her plate. Unfortunately, it was not enough for Amina to pick up pace, especially since she doesn't do desserts too well to begin with, leading to Amina being eliminated regardless.
• Season 13:
  • In one episode, Eric plates up several dishes inspired by his Australian-Chinese background. Jock and Andy clearly cherish the opportunity to experience cuisine from other cultures, while Melissa (who is also of Chinese heritage) is moved to tears.