Joe Bastianich, who serves as a judge on both the flagship series and youth-oriented MasterChef Junior, will exit the series after the latter's third season. Producers are currently looking for a third judge to join Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot.

"Joe has played an integral role in the success of both MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, and we all appreciate his incredible culinary insight, sense of humor and passion. He will always remain a member of the MasterChef family," producers Shine America, One Potato Two Potato and Fox said in a joint statement.

He will continue to be a judge on MasterChef Italia.