Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli has been officially announced as the replacement for John Torode on the BBC's Celebrity MasterChef. The 63-year-old Italian chef will join restaurant critic Grace Dent on the judging panel, following Torode's departure from the long-running series.
New Judge Line-Up
Giorgio Locatelli, who previously served as a judge on the Italian version of the amateur cooking show, has already filmed the upcoming series alongside Grace Dent. The new episodes are set to air later this year.
Speaking about his new role on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, Locatelli said: "I think I was a bad cop. I'm strict. Strict about cleanliness and organisation. Those little skills that you teach them slowly." He added: "We're working with celebrities which is different from working with people who wanted to be a chef, but still, you can really see them growing in what they do, and so this is the thing that interests me more on the whole experience."
Grace Dent's Enthusiasm
Grace Dent, who stepped in after Gregg Wallace's departure, expressed her excitement about the new addition: "Giorgio Locatelli is a fabulous addition to our UK Celebrity MasterChef team. I'm a long-time admirer of his work and was a huge fan of Locanda Locatelli; for many years, it was one of my happy places to eat." She added: "I couldn't be happier to combine our shared joy, passion, and expertise for food. I also love an opportunity to serve up a heavy dose of glamour in the MasterChef kitchen, and I have a feeling Giorgio is going to give me a real run for my money."
Background of Torode's Exit
John Torode and his long-time co-presenter Gregg Wallace were both sacked from the show in July last year after 21 years. The BBC upheld a complaint that Torode had used "an extremely offensive racist term" during production, an allegation he has consistently denied.
In a statement, BBC bosses said: "This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin. The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed."
Recent Winners
Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola won Celebrity MasterChef in 2024, and Ginger Johnson, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, took the title in 2025. John Torode's final episode aired in December 2025, where viewers noticed tears in his eyes as he tasted one of the last dishes.
