Walk into the MasterChef Australia kitchen in 2025 and you might have spotted Declan Cleary—a builder from Queensland who swapped nail guns for whisking bowls. For many viewers, though, his biggest moment came when he found love with fellow contestant Sarah Todd.
Age: 27 (as of 2025) · Occupation: Builder, Chef Ambassador, TV personality · MasterChef Season: Season 17 (2025) · Partner: Sarah Todd · Children: Two daughters · Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Quick snapshot
- Age 27 in 2025 (The Australian Women’s Weekly)
- In relationship with Sarah Todd (Mamamia)
- Two daughters, Claudia and Charlotte (Sarah Todd on Instagram)
- Occupation: builder and chef ambassador (Mamamia)
- 1997/1998: Declan Cleary born (Sarah Todd on Instagram)
- 2025: MasterChef Season 17 contestant (Sarah Todd on Instagram)
- Oct 2025: Announced expecting first child (Sarah Todd on Instagram)
- Dec 2025: Twins born, shared on Christmas Eve (The Australian Women’s Weekly)
- Jan 6 2026: “Happy fiance” post indicates engagement (The Australian Women’s Weekly)
- Blending lives in Melbourne with Sarah Todd and her son Phoenix (New Idea)
- Further TV appearances expected given public interest (New Idea)
Seven data points from official and verified coverage, one pattern: Declan Cleary’s public profile is built almost entirely on two things—MasterChef and his relationship with Sarah Todd.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Declan Cleary |
| Age in 2025 | 27 |
| Occupation | Builder, Chef Ambassador, TV personality |
| TV show | MasterChef Australia Season 17 |
| Partner | Sarah Todd |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Residence | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
How old is Declan Cleary?
Declan Cleary was 27 years old during MasterChef Australia Season 17 in 2025, according to The Australian Women’s Weekly, which cited his official contestant profile. That places his birth year in 1997 or 1998. His exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed, but his age was consistently reported as 27 in all coverage throughout 2025.
The implication: Declan belongs to Gen Z, making his rapid journey from builder to TV finalist to father even more compressed. By age 27 he had not only appeared on a major cooking competition but also started a family.
What is the age difference between Declan Cleary and Sarah Todd?
Sarah Todd, born 26 October 1987 (Wikipedia), was 38 in 2025. The age gap between Declan (27) and Sarah (38) is reported as 11 years by Mamamia. That’s a difference of roughly a decade—significant enough to draw public curiosity, but neither party has commented on it beyond their obvious happiness together.
While the age gap makes headlines, the couple’s own statements focus on emotional compatibility, not numbers. Declan told The Australian Women’s Weekly that “nothing was ever rushed or forced – we just enjoyed spending time together.”
The pattern: Media coverage frequently highlights the 11-year gap, yet the couple’s social media and public appearances show no friction—suggesting that for this pair, the age difference is incidental to a working relationship.
Are Declan and Sarah of MasterChef still together?
Yes, as of mid-2025, Declan Cleary and Sarah Todd are in a relationship that began on the set of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win. The Australian Women’s Weekly confirmed they were together in June 2025. The couple share two daughters—twins Claudia and Charlotte, born in late 2025 and introduced publicly on Christmas Eve 2025 via social media. A January 6, 2026 Instagram post by Declan included the phrase “Happy fiance,” indicating an engagement (The Australian Women’s Weekly).
Who is Declan’s girlfriend on MasterChef?
Declan’s girlfriend is Sarah Todd, a fellow contestant on Season 17. Sarah is known as a chef, model, restaurateur, and author (Wikipedia). Their relationship reportedly developed from friendship during filming, as Declan described in an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly.
Who is Sarah’s new boyfriend on MasterChef?
Sarah Todd’s new boyfriend is Declan Cleary. Coverage consistently frames their romance as “love found on MasterChef Australia” (The Australian Women’s Weekly). Both were eliminated from the 2025 season and neither won the title.
The implication: This reality-show romance defied the usual pattern of post-season breakups, accelerating into a full family unit within months of filming.
What does Declan Cleary do for a living?
Declan Cleary works as a builder and chef ambassador, and he became a TV personality through MasterChef Australia. His social media profiles list him as a “Builder | Chef Ambassador | MasterChef AU S17” (Mamamia). He is not married as of 2025, though he is engaged to Sarah Todd. His ex-girlfriend is Talya, per public reports, though details remain sparse.
The trade-off: By stepping onto MasterChef, Declan shifted from a trade career into the public eye—a move that now links his identity to both building and cooking, and one that brought him a partner and children in less than a year.
Where do Sarah and Declan live?
The couple lives in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Declan reportedly relocated from Sydney to Melbourne to be with Sarah Todd and her son Phoenix, according to New Idea. Declan also has ties to Cloncurry, Queensland, where he was based before the show.
Why this matters: The move from Queensland to Victoria reflects the depth of his commitment—leaving his hometown and trade network to build a life in Sarah’s city.
Three attributes that highlight the differences—and the common ground—between Declan Cleary and Sarah Todd.
| Attribute | Declan Cleary | Sarah Todd |
|---|---|---|
| Age in 2025 | 27 (The Australian Women’s Weekly) | 38 (Wikipedia) |
| Occupation | Builder, Chef Ambassador, TV personality (Mamamia) | Chef, model, restaurateur, author (Wikipedia) |
| MasterChef season | Season 17 (2025), eliminated (The Australian Women’s Weekly) | Season 17 (2025), finished 6th (Wikipedia) |
| Residence | Melbourne, Victoria (relocated from QLD) (New Idea) | Melbourne, Victoria |
The contrast: She brings a decade of culinary business and media experience; he brings a trade background and fresh energy. Together they’ve built a family unit that’s now a staple of Australian pop culture reporting.
Timeline of key events
- 1997/1998 – Declan Cleary born.
- 2025 – Competes in MasterChef Australia Season 17.
- June 2025 – Relationship with Sarah Todd confirmed (The Australian Women’s Weekly).
- October 2025 – Sarah Todd announces pregnancy (Sarah Todd on Instagram).
- December 2025 – Twins Claudia and Charlotte born (The Australian Women’s Weekly).
- January 6, 2026 – Declan posts “Happy fiance” indicating engagement (The Australian Women’s Weekly).
What we know vs. what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Declan Cleary age 27 (confirmed by The Australian Women’s Weekly)
- Relationship with Sarah Todd (multiple sources)
- Two daughters (twins) with Sarah Todd
- Occupation: builder, chef ambassador, TV personality
What’s unclear
- Exact birth date (month/day not publicly recorded)
- Marital status: not married, but engaged as of Jan 2026
- Details of ex-girlfriend Talya
- Whether Declan will pursue further TV work after MasterChef
- Exact residence — reported as Melbourne based on media but not independently confirmed
Voices from the story
“Nothing was ever rushed or forced – we just enjoyed spending time together.”
Declan Cleary, in an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly
“The romance started on set and developed into a full family life in under a year.”
The Australian Women’s Weekly, reporting on the couple
For Australian TV audiences, the Declan Cleary story is a rare instance of a reality-show romance that didn’t implode after the cameras stopped—it accelerated. For Declan himself, the choice is now between returning to building or leaning fully into a media career. For Sarah Todd, the outcome is a blended family with a partner who, by all available evidence, matched her pace. For viewers in Melbourne (and beyond) the implication is clear: sometimes the best dish is the one you didn’t plan, and the youngest builder in the room can end up with the biggest life change.
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Frequently asked questions
How old is Declan Cleary?
Declan Cleary is 27 years old as of 2025, placing his birth year in 1997 or 1998.
What is Declan Cleary’s occupation?
He works as a builder, chef ambassador, and TV personality, having appeared on MasterChef Australia Season 17.
Who is Declan Cleary’s partner?
His partner is Sarah Todd, a fellow MasterChef contestant. They have two children together and are engaged.
Does Declan Cleary have children?
Yes, he has two daughters, twins Claudia and Charlotte, born in 2025.
Where does Declan Cleary live?
He lives in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, having moved from Queensland.
What MasterChef season was Declan Cleary on?
He was a contestant on MasterChef Australia Season 17 (Back To Win) in 2025.
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Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.