They were supposed to compete against one another, but instead they found love.

When they walked into the MasterChef Australia kitchen, Sarah Todd and Declan Cleary expected a heated cook-off, but they never expected to find love.

Now, the pair are preparing to have their first baby together. Declan and Sarah took to Instagram on October 9, sharing a sponsored post with Clearblue, to confirm the news.
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“We are overjoyed to share that our little family is growing 💛,” Sarah captioned the post. “These past months have been some of the most precious of our lives. A sacred time of holding this news close, letting it sink in, and soaking up all the emotions with those dearest to us.

“It has been such a gift to sit in the wonder of it all, imagining the beautiful new chapter that lies ahead.

“We feel so deeply blessed knowing this little cherub will enter a world already brimming with so much love. Between us, Phoenix, and Sol, there is no shortage of cuddles, laughter, and warmth waiting to welcome the addition to our family.

“Our hearts are full to the brim, and we couldn’t be happier to finally share this joy with all of you. Thank you for being a part of this special moment in our lives. It means the world to us. With love,
Sarah, Declan, Phoenix & Sol 🐾,” she concluded.
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While they were supposed to be competitors on the Back to Win season, Declan confessed they hit it off immediately.

“Nothing was ever rushed or forced – we just enjoyed spending time together,” Declan, 27, revealed in an interview with Stellar magazine.

Despite their obvious chemistry, Declan didn’t ask Sarah, 38, on a date until she was walking into the elimination challenge.

“As she’s walking into the elimination [challenge], I said, ‘Sarah, can I ask you something? Would you like to go on a date with me?’,” he recalled. “And she just looked at me and said, ‘You’re a bloody idiot’.”

After the shock of his question passed, Sarah realised they “made sense. “
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Both chefs unfortunately didn’t win the 2025 season. Sarah’s elimination episode aired on Ten at the end of July, with Declan sharing a touching tribute to her journey.

“You were by far the bravest, most creative and resilient chef in that kitchen in my eyes. I never stood a chance against you,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Despite the undercurrents, the constant second guessing, the moments that felt more like quiet resistance than support, you held your head high.

“Thanks for being my best friend in and outside of that kitchen. We have so much fun together and you make my heart so full. You are a true inspiration not only to all the home cooks out there but to the chefs around the world that would gain knowledge and vision from your wonderful masterpieces.

“Love you lots,” he concluded.
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Following her elimination, Sarah shared her own message, sharing that meeting Declan was a “huge win.”

“Sometimes the universe brings someone into your life at exactly the right moment, and I’m so grateful that this journey led me not only to my spirit in the kitchen, but to a love I never saw coming,” she wrote on Instagram.

Sarah and Declan’s relationship away from cameras continues to blossom, and they are now living together in Melbourne, sharing a home with Sarah’s 14-year-old son Phoenix and Declans’s dog, Sol.

“We’re one big family now,” Sarah told TV WEEK.
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In September 2025, they took their love abroad! Declan shared pictures of the pair sharing a kiss under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

“We are exactly where we are supposed to be,” he captioned the post (above). “The right place. The right time. This exact moment with each other we have both dreamt of.”

At the time, fans had no idea that Sarah was actually pregnant during this European holiday!