A New Chapter for MasterChef
Grace Dent has candidly addressed her new position as a host on MasterChef, revealing the programme felt like a 'very male place' throughout her decade-long involvement as a critic. The celebrated restaurant critic, 52, steps into the role following the high-profile departures of former presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Taking Over the Reins
Dent will now present Celebrity MasterChef alongside John Torode and will co-host the amateur version of the show with new presenter Anna Haugh, a 45-year-old Irish chef and former protégée of Gordon Ramsay. This new lineup marks a significant refresh for the series, which has been a staple on the BBC since 1990.
The opportunity arose after Gregg Wallace, 61, was dismissed from the BBC in July. This followed an independent inquiry that upheld 45 allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him. Subsequently, after the filming of the celebrity edition, John Torode, 60, also left the show. This followed nine complaints, one of which—an allegation that he used an 'extremely offensive racist term' around 2018 or 2019—was upheld. Torode vehemently denied the claim, stating he had 'no recollection' of the incident.
Addressing the Past and Looking to the Future
While speaking to The Times, Dent expressed her affection for Torode, calling him 'one of the kindest, most concerned, clever, thoughtful men that I know.' Her tone was markedly different when discussing Wallace. 'He was always a very, very big character,' she said. 'After reading the entire [inquiry] report, my recollections of having a nice time with him... is pretty much irrelevant.'
She emphasised that her personal experiences were beside the point in light of the inquiry's findings. Dent is now focused on the future, thrilled to be working alongside Anna Haugh. 'MasterChef was a very male place for the whole time I was there — utter male energy all the time,' she explained. 'To be there now with a woman by my side, it’s fantastic.'
The critic admitted she was moved to tears when offered the job, describing MasterChef as the 'biggest and most important food show on British television.' In a statement confirming her new role, she shared her long-standing connection to the programme: 'I've been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa... It's all about uncovering and championing talent, and to have ended up in this position is more than a dream to me.'
Meanwhile, Gregg Wallace has publicly contested his dismissal. In a furious social media statement, he claimed the Silkin Report 'exonerates him of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year.' He accused the BBC News division of intending to 'platform legally unsafe accusations' and stated the corporation was 'no longer providing balanced and impartial public service journalism.'
