Grace Dent is known for her sharp food reviews and straight-talking TV appearances, but the star has kept much of her private life away from the spotlight. The 52-year-old restaurant critic and broadcaster has become a familiar face on television through her appearances on MasterChef, as well as her stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! She is now taking on a prominent role on Celebrity MasterChef alongside chef Giorgio Locatelli.
Marriage and Finding Love Again
Away from the kitchen, Grace has spoken occasionally about her relationships, including a nine-year marriage that ended before she later found love again. Grace has never publicly named her former husband, but she has previously discussed what it was like to start dating again after spending much of the 2000s in a long-term relationship. She has also revealed that the pair married in Las Vegas.
The former couple's wedding remains something Grace has been able to laugh about, with the broadcaster revealing that she has kept her wedding dress. She has even joked about wearing it again, saying she feels like a "million dollars" when she puts it on.
New Relationship with Charles
Following the end of her marriage, Grace eventually entered another long-term relationship with a man named Charles, who she has also referred to as Charlie. The pair are understood to have first connected through mutual friends after following each other on Instagram. Charles later sent Grace a message asking whether she fancied meeting for coffee, marking the beginning of their relationship.
Grace has previously spoken fondly about those early days, admitting that she had looked at photographs of Charles online before they met and found him very attractive. After meeting him in person, she described him as "absolutely gorgeous". Their relationship became more serious over time, with reports stating that the couple got engaged in 2021 after around two years together. Despite occasionally discussing their romance, Grace has largely kept the relationship out of the spotlight.
Decision Not to Have Children
Another subject Grace has been unusually candid about is her decision not to have children. Writing for The Guardian, she explained that the summer holidays can serve as a reminder of why she chose not to become a parent herself. Grace has stressed that her decision does not mean she dislikes children, but rather that motherhood was never something she wanted for herself.
She wrote: "I do like children. Just not enough. This still feels like a radical thing for a woman to say." Grace also praised parents for raising the next generation, while making it clear that having children was not the path she wanted to take. Her comments have offered a rare glimpse into the personal choices behind the public persona, while she continues to keep much of her private life firmly out of the headlines.
Celebrity MasterChef airs tonight from 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
