Former MasterChef judge John Torode has made what appears to be a final dig at the BBC while penning an emotional online tribute to his replacement, the food critic Grace Dent.
The End of an Era and a Controversial Exit
Torode, 60, and his long-time co-host Gregg Wallace were dismissed from the flagship cooking show in July 2025. The move followed a series of misconduct allegations against both men. The pair had been the face of the revived series since it returned to screens in 2005.
Wallace faced claims of making sexual comments to colleagues, which he denied, stating he had been cleared of the most serious accusations. Torode separately admitted to facing an allegation involving the alleged use of racial language, which he also firmly denied.
A Gracious Handover and a New Judging Panel
Prior to their exit, Torode and Dent had worked together, judging Celebrity MasterChef in 2025. In September of that year, the BBC confirmed that Grace Dent, 52, and chef Anna Haugh, 45, would become the new permanent judges for the show's 22nd series.
In a heartfelt post on his Substack newsletter, titled 'GRAVY, GRACIOUS, GRATEFUL, GLIMMERS AND 1ST FULL MOON OF 2026' on January 4, 2026, Torode praised Dent. He wrote: 'Grace Dent: What a strong extraordinary woman.' He described her as someone who 'stands up for all that she believes in' and is 'never scared of doing the right thing'.
Torode concluded his tribute by stating, 'It was a privilege to stand by her side. Her support unfailing.'
Public Support and Looking Forward
This public show of respect follows Dent's own support for Torode during the controversy that led to his dismissal. In December 2025, she shared snaps from their time on Celebrity MasterChef, calling him her 'brilliant sidekick'.
Speaking about her new role alongside Anna Haugh, Grace Dent said she was 'over the moon' to return to the MasterChef kitchen. Haugh expressed her delight at judging alongside Dent, whose writing she had admired for years.
The original MasterChef series aired from 1990 to 2001 before its revival. Both MasterChef and Celebrity MasterChef are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
