You probably know Zumbo’s Just Desserts as a fun, colorful baking competition that you streamed one weekend on Netflix. Sure, it’s been radio silence on the subject of Zumbo’s Just Desserts season 2, but that happens sometimes. In Australia it’s another story, however. The show, and the chef from whom it gets its name, has been at the center of an unfolding drama. But it doesn’t seem like that has put the fate of the show in question, though it has sparked plenty of speculation.
In fact, Adriano Zumbo’s dessert empire in Australia has essentially crumbled. The chef, who skyrocketed to TV fame after his 2009 appearance on MasterChef, had only a modest business before that appearance. But it seemed like challenging home chefs to recreate his towering croquembouche was enough to catapult his business to the next level. Financial Review documented the staggering growth: “From a humble Balmain bakery in Sydney’s inner west, he opened four more Sydney stores, one Sydney pop-up, three Melbourne stores, production kitchens in each city and a high-tea salon in Melbourne.”
In August 2016, Seven Network in Australia launched the baking competition Zumbo’s Just Desserts, starring Adriano. As you know, it was then released on your Netflix queue. But though we recently saw the chef-turned-TV-star in yet another Netflix feature, Sugar Rush, there was no word about the show featuring his name and whether it would return.
Behind the cameras, Zumbo has been struggling financially. His high-tea salon just didn’t put people in seats, and in August 2018 it was discovered that his company may have been trading while insolvent since the middle of 2017. His debt could be as high $10 million, though several sources report that he has assets in the $8 million range. But does that mean there won’t be a Zumbo’s Just Desserts season 2? Apparently not.
Will there be a Zumbo’s Just Desserts season 2, or was it cancelled?
Most people just assumed the show was cancelled when no Zumbo’s Just Desserts season 2 appeared in their Netflix queue. But, luckily for fans of the sweet show, that’s not quite the case. The show flopped on Seven Network. The rating are pretty clear about that. The Daily Mail reported back in August that the network was casting for another baking competition, which is a pretty clear sign they’re giving Adriano the boot.
But that still leaves Netflix. Apparently bad reviews on one network can’t kill you. “Seven Network has signed a co-production deal with Netflix for a second season of baking competition show Zumbo’s Just Desserts,” Financial Review announced in late August. At the time of publication Netflix had not responded to Metro to verify this report, but we will update this story if they do. For now, just keep your fingers crossed for more towering creations crafted out of sugar.
