Millions watch Julie win MasterChef

MasterChef Australia winner Julie Goodwin says she's adjusting to life in the
limelight after almost four million people watched her win the amateur cooking TV
contest.
An average national audience of 3.745 million watched Goodwin beat South Australian
Poh Ling Yeow on Sunday, with the number of viewers peaking at 4.11 million.
It is the most watched non-sporting TV event in Australian history - beating the
2004 Australian Idol verdict, which had 3.3 million viewers.
Goodwin said she was "over the moon" about the ratings but never in her "wildest
dreams" imagined so many people would be interested.
The 38-year-old mother of three from the NSW Central Coast spent the day doing
interview after interview, and said she was adjusting to her new life.
"It's quite an abrupt change actually from sitting around, dropping kids to things
to walking into the supermarket and seeing my face on newspapers and people
approaching me," Goodwin said.
"But everybody's been so lovely and excited.
"It's not horrible. It's just different and something I'll have to get used to for
at least a little while."
In a rarity for the Australian media, even rival TV networks reported on the finale.
According to a Seven Network source, the network was very keen to get Goodwin on its
morning show, but Network Ten declined.
Goodwin, who pockets $100,000 and a cookbook deal, thanked her husband and three
sons for being so supportive.
"They're handling it really, really well and have just been absolutely fantastic and
supportive," she said.
Looking ahead, Goodwin's profile is only set to soar.
She's quitting helping her husband run his IT business, with her home-style cookbook
to be released soon and expected to be a sellout.
She plans to open a restaurant in one to two years and will begin writing for The
Australian Women's Weekly about recipes and her family.
"I'm going to be a columnist for the Women's Weekly - it's exciting," Goodwin said.
The column will feature from next month.
The magazine's editorial director Robyn Foyster said Goodwin will inspire readers.
"She has captured the hearts of Australia by encouraging people in their droves to
rediscover the joys of cooking," Ms Foyster said.
"Julie was always a winner in our minds.
"We love her warmth and enthusiasm. We can relate to her being a mum, cooking from
the heart and with love for her family."