Celebrity MasterChef has suffered a significant drop in viewership, losing nearly a third of its audience compared to last year. The latest series, which began airing in November, has struggled to attract more than 1.4 million viewers per episode, a sharp decline from the 2.6 million peak seen in 2023. The first episode failed to make the Barb Top 50 programmes of the week, lagging far behind rivals such as I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (9.5 million viewers) and Strictly Come Dancing (8 million).
The show has been hit by controversy following allegations against former host Gregg Wallace, who stepped down in November 2024 after being accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues. Wallace denies the claims but admits to using inappropriate language. Co-judge John Torode was also let go after a report alleged he made a racist remark. Torode, who has been with the show for 20 years, recorded the current series before the report was released.
BBC bosses are now planning a new era for the show, with Italian Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli reportedly set to replace Torode as a permanent judge. Locatelli, who previously appeared on BBC2's Big Family Cooking Showdown, ran the acclaimed Locanda Locatelli restaurant in London for 22 years. A source told The Sun: 'It’s time for a new era for Celeb MasterChef and bosses think Giorgio is the perfect fit.'
Torode has admitted to seeking professional help to cope with the 'grief' of losing his job, where he met his wife, Lisa Faulkner, when she appeared as a contestant. The current series features celebrities including Uma Jammeh, Ashley Cain, Chris Hughes, and Michelle Heaton, with John Torode and new permanent judge Grace Dent overseeing the competition.
