Giorgio Locatelli is joining Grace Dent as a judge on Celebrity MasterChef for the BBC show's 21st series, replacing John Torode as the celebrity contestants face a fresh culinary challenge.
The 63-year-old Italian chef is no stranger to television, having already built a reputation as one of Britain's best-known Italian chefs. But while his restaurants and TV appearances have made him a familiar face, Giorgio tends to keep his life away from the kitchen much more private.
From a Michelin-starred family to London's food scene
Giorgio's passion for cooking began at an early age. He grew up surrounded by food, with his uncle running the Michelin-starred La Cinzianella. Giorgio eventually followed the family tradition, working in restaurants across Italy and Switzerland before making the move to Britain.
His early London career included a stint working for acclaimed chef Anton Edelmann at The Savoy – a move that helped establish his reputation in the capital's competitive restaurant scene. His own restaurant, Locanda Locatelli, opened its doors in 2002 and went on to become one of London's most prestigious Italian dining spots.
His Michelin-starred success
Giorgio's reputation continued to grow, with his first Michelin star arriving in 1999 before he secured a second in 2003. Locanda Locatelli also became a favourite among the rich and famous, attracting a string of high-profile diners over the years, including Kate Moss and Brad Pitt.
But after more than two decades, the restaurant closed in 2025. The venue said the closure was due to "reasons out of our control", bringing the curtain down on a major chapter of Giorgio's career.
Giorgio's new restaurant venture
The closure did not keep the chef away from the restaurant world for long. Giorgio and his wife, Plaxy, later opened a new eponymous restaurant in the refurbished Sainsbury Wing of London's National Gallery. The restaurant marks a slightly different chapter for the chef, with a more relaxed approach centred around Italian classics.
He's already a familiar face on BBC
Celebrity MasterChef isn't Giorgio's first taste of television. He has previously presented BBC Two programmes including Italy Unpacked and Sicily Unpacked, taking viewers on culinary journeys through Italy. Now he's swapping travel programmes for the Celebrity MasterChef kitchen.
Speaking about joining the series, Giorgio described the role as a "real honour" and said he was looking forward to seeing what the celebrity contestants could bring to the kitchen.
Who is Giorgio Locatelli married to?
Away from his restaurants and television work, Giorgio is notoriously private about his family life. He has been married to Plaxy for more than two decades, with the couple living in Camden, north London. Together they have daughter Margherita, known as Dita, while Plaxy also has a son, Jack, from a previous relationship. The family have largely stayed out of the spotlight, with Giorgio's professional life taking centre stage over the years.
When is Celebrity MasterChef back?
Giorgio Locatelli will make his debut as a Celebrity MasterChef judge alongside Grace Dent when the new series begins on Tuesday, August 18. The programme airs from 9pm on BBC One, with episodes also available on BBC iPlayer. This year there will also be three guest stars joining, which include Paddy McGuinness, Zoe Ball and I'm a Celebrity winner Morgan Burtwistle, better known as Angry Ginge.
With a new judge, a fresh line-up of famous contestants and some serious cooking challenges ahead, Giorgio will now have to decide which celebrities have what it takes to make the grade in the MasterChef kitchen.
