Grace Dent to replace Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef

Restaurant critic Grace Dent has been announced as the judge for the next series of Celebrity MasterChef alongside John Torode.

She replaces Gregg Wallace, who is facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Wallace has been co-presenter of MasterChef since 2005 and MasterChef: The Professionals since 2008 but last month it was confirmed he would step away from the role amid an investigation into his conduct.

Dent, a former contestant on last year’s MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023 and restaurant critic for The Guardian, will be judging the upcoming 20th series of Celebrity MasterChef.

She previously wrote about food for the Evening Standard and has authored over 20 books, including her memoir, Hungry, Comfort Eating and the ‘Diary Of’ series.

Dent said: “I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was a girl, sitting with my dad on the sofa. My whole family watches it. It’s all about uncovering and championing talent and to have ended up in this position is more than a dream to me. I’m so excited that I can’t eat, which is severely detrimental to a restaurant critic. I feel very lucky to be stepping in for the next Celebrity MasterChef. I can’t wait to meet the fresh celebrity faces for 2025.”

Torode added: “I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges. Expertise is what MasterChef is all about, from the contestants to our wonderful production team, to us as judges. The love of food, the love of MasterChef, and that unquestionable expertise, makes Grace the perfect person to step in alongside me as judge for the forthcoming Celebrity MasterChef series.”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said: “Grace Dent is the perfect choice to step in for the next series of Celebrity MasterChef. Grace is not only an energetic and well-established member of the MasterChef team, but is also a world renowned food critic, so she will certainly keep the next batch of celebrities on their toes.”

Image: Shine TV/BBC