Matt Tebbutt Departs MasterChef The Professionals After Brief Stint
Television chef Matt Tebbutt is reportedly not returning to MasterChef The Professionals after just one series at the helm. The presenter was drafted in to replace Gregg Wallace, who was axed from the BBC show over misconduct allegations.
Decision Driven by Host Chemistry, Not Performance
Sources indicate that the decision for Tebbutt not to return is unrelated to his performance. Instead, it stems from the strong chemistry between long-standing hosts Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti, who have been on the show since 2014, bar a brief hiatus for Galetti.
"There might be a few eyebrows raised that Matt isn’t staying on given he has just joined," a source told The Sun. "He didn’t do anything wrong and will definitely come back to the series as a guest in the future. But bosses simply realised that they could get away with just having Marcus and Monica at the helm, especially as their chemistry is great and they have a tight relationship. Three was a bit of a crowd."
The source added that Tebbutt has taken the news in stride, with plenty of other work to keep him busy, and that the experience provided brilliant exposure for him.
Official Statement and Past Comments
A Banijay spokeswoman stated: "No decisions have been made yet about the presenting line up for the future series of MasterChef. We won’t comment on speculation."
When Tebbutt joined the show last year, he described it as an "absolute honour", expressing excitement about working alongside "two titans of the food world". He previously acknowledged the challenge of stepping into Wallace's shoes, noting he had done so before when James Martin left Saturday Kitchen.
"Stepping into someone's TV shoes is a difficult position to be in," Tebbutt explained. "I just try and make my own mark without making too many waves. I'll be as safe as houses on MasterChef: The Professionals!"
He humorously added that his kids call him "GI Dad", with the "GI" referring to "give in" rather than a GI Joe reference, but emphasised he expects high standards from contestants.
The chef also speculated that his selection might have been due to his experience and the alliteration of his name beginning with 'M', like his co-hosts.
