The BBC has announced that Grace Dent and Anna Haugh will serve as judges for the 22nd amateur series of MasterChef, set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Grace Dent, an award-winning restaurant critic and journalist, has been a regular guest critic on MasterChef for over a decade and competed in MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023. Anna Haugh, chef patron of Myrtle Restaurant and TV presenter, judged MasterChef: The Professionals in 2022 and will appear in the final week of the current series.
David Ambler, MasterChef Executive Editor, said: “A big welcome to Grace and Anna to the MasterChef judging team. Both are enormously respected in the hospitality industry and we can’t wait for them to uncover some more great cooking talent - from home kitchens across the country.” Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning, added: “Grace and Anna are already part of the MasterChef family and together have culinary credentials that are second to none.”
Grace Dent commented: “I’m over the moon to be coming back to the MasterChef kitchen and unearthing what culinary skills people have been cooking up behind closed doors. It’s a joy to be working with Anna, who brings all her incredible experience to the table.” Anna Haugh said: “I’m delighted to be back on MasterChef and judging alongside the wonderful Grace Dent, whose writing and wit I’ve admired for years.”
MasterChef (21 x 60’) is a Shine TV (part of Banijay UK) production for BBC One and iPlayer, commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight. The Executive Editor is David Ambler and the Series Editor, Katie Attwood. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Sarah Clay.
