Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli has been confirmed as the new judge on Celebrity MasterChef, replacing John Torode. The 63-year-old will join restaurant critic Grace Dent on the BBC show, with the new series already filmed. Locatelli previously served as a judge on the Italian version of the amateur cooking competition.
Torode and Gregg Wallace were both dismissed from MasterChef 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. The corporation said his contract would not be renewed, citing an independent investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin.
Speaking 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. 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 welcomed her new co-star, saying: “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. 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.”
Torode's final episode aired in December 2025, with viewers noting tears in his eyes as he tasted one of the last dishes. Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola won Celebrity MasterChef in 2024, while RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Ginger Johnson took the title in 2025.
