Sarah Todd and Declan Cleary found love on MasterChef. It started with '20 seconds of courage'.

On Friday, MasterChef stars Sarah Todd and Declan Cleary shared they're expecting their first child — and now we can finally share all the exclusive details.

The couple, whose unexpected love story unfolded in front of a national audience during MasterChef: Back to Win, sat down with Kate Langbroek on Mamamia's No Filter before the news officially dropped.

"We're having a baby… the bun's in the oven, and it's all I've ever wanted in life," Declan told Mamamia.

Listen to Declan and Sarah's chat on No Filter. Post continues below.

The MasterChef kitchen is designed to test skill and nerves in a high-pressure environment, not spark romance. It's why the relationship between Sarah and Declan was so surprising for both of them.

On paper, they were total opposites. Sarah — the accomplished global chef, restaurateur and TV personality — was "very contained, very graceful." Declan was the external, bubbly Northern Beaches Aussie tradie and carpenter.

"I was just like, oh, this bloody bombshell is on the show. It's gonna be hard to keep my eyes off her," Declan joked.

"I think we both went in with no intentions to find love."

Yet, somewhere between the intense pressure tests and late-night cook-offs, a bond began to simmer.

Fellow MasterChef contestant Laura Sharrad with Declan and Sarah. Image: Instagram/declancleary.

Sarah admired Declan's directness and transparency: "He's so himself, and he's not hiding who he is."

"We kind of became each other's sort of little safe place that was away from all of that intensity."

They were both there to win, and seeing the worst sides of people under pressure made their connection that much more meaningful.

The relationship was initially built on a close friendship, but Declan knew he had to act fast when the eliminations began. The moment came just before an elimination challenge.

"I've always, my whole life, have told myself, you just need 20 seconds of courage with whatever it is you're doing," Declan said.

So, as they were walking into the set with the other contestants, he bit the bullet, tapped Sarah on the shoulder and asked her out.

Sarah's reaction? "She's like, 'You're an idiot.'"

Watch: Sarah and Declan's baby announcement. Post continues below.

It took two days for Sarah to get back to him (she wanted to be sure it was a real date).

When she finally said yes, Declan whisked her away for their first trip: a getaway to the Royal Mail in the Grampians, a place he'd heard her mention she wanted to visit.

It was a clear sign to Sarah that this relationship was serious — and the perfect start to their life outside the MasterChef bubble.

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Beyond the romance, Sarah and Declan faced the real-world test of blending their lives. The most obvious challenge was the 11-year age gap and the introduction of Declan to Sarah's then 13-year-old son, Phoenix.

They spent time doing regular things — padel at the beach, dinners, and barbecues — allowing a natural, healthy bond to grow between Phoenix and Declan.

"It wasn't like, 'here's a boyfriend'," Sarah explained, stressing the importance of protecting her son from instability.

"I don't want to be bringing people into his life and taking them away. He doesn't deserve that."

Declan and Sarah. Image: Instagram/sarahtodd.

As the relationship solidified, Declan proved he was there for the long haul.

He became a part of Sarah and Phoenix's routine, waking up at 6am to drive her to the studio, having food ready when she returned late, and helping with school drop-offs — things Sarah, a fiercely independent single mum, had only ever asked her own parents to do.

"It was like walking into a home where it felt like... it was full," Sarah said.

Sarah and Declan found love on MasterChef: Back to Win. Image: Instagram/sarahtodd.

After years of running her business and raising her son alone, letting go wasn't easy.

"I felt like that was very hard for me to do, because I have always done everything," she said.

"A relationship takes a kind of surrender… if you're someone who's been fiercely independent, that requires a different set of muscles."

It's a balance they're still figuring out.

"We really just threw ourselves into the thick of it," Declan said.

A summer baby is on the way. Image: Instagram/sarahtodd.

The baby news.

The couple didn't waste time on their future, moving in together after shooting their season.

Given the age gap, they'd already had frank conversations about building their family.

"We knew this is what we wanted," Sarah said.

The first clue they were pregnant was physical.

"First of all, my boobs," Sarah laughed.

Then, while flying home from a work trip to India, the ultimate giveaway struck: "I'm going through customs in the airport, and out of nowhere, I just vomit in a bin."

At this point, Declan was waiting up in Cairns for a planned getaway. He rushed to the pharmacy, bought a "really fancy" test and gave it to Sarah in the caravan. The result was positive.

Their immediate next step was pure, adrenaline-fuelled chaos.

"I'm like, Holy sh**, jump on the water skis, because we're meant to go water ski," Sarah said.

The bump on show. Image: Instagram/sarahtodd.

The news was shared with close family and fellow MasterChef contestant Rhiannon Anderson almost immediately.

The baby is a "summer baby", expected around the end of this year or early next year.

They're already bunkered down in Melbourne, having purchased a bigger house in the Bayside area to accommodate their expanding family.

Declan is excited to embrace all of it, right down to the sleepless nights.

"I'm so excited for all the little moments, the late night feeds," he said.

"I really want to support Sarah in every way I can professionally, so she can continue this career and all this work that she does and enjoy this experience."

The couple announced their pregnancy on Instagram. Image: Instagram/sarahtodd.

Beyond the baby news, Sarah and Declan's success comes down to a few surprisingly simple relationship rules.

"We want to work through the hard times. We don't want to run away when it's difficult," Sarah said. "We both understand that relationships take work, and that we will hit hurdles... it's just how you deal with it."

Their love story is a reminder that life doesn't always follow a recipe.

"You can't put yourself on time limits, or you can't tell yourself you have to do this by this age, or have this accomplished in your life by now," Declan said.

Feature image: Instagram/sarahtodd.