Matt Tebbutt has made his highly anticipated return to BBC Saturday Kitchen, following a brief spell away in Australia. The 52-year-old presenter resumed his hosting duties on March 14, after The One Show's Alex Jones stepped in to fill his shoes the previous weekend.
Alex Jones Praised for Temporary Hosting Role
During his return episode, Matt Tebbutt took a moment to commend Alex Jones for her performance as temporary host on March 7. He told the studio audience: "Before we go on with our usual nonsense, we should say how well Alex did last week. Well done, Alex Jones."
As applause filled the studio, Matt added with a playful tone: "Bit too good for my liking." This lighthearted comment highlighted both his appreciation for her work and his competitive spirit as the show's regular presenter.
Industry Colleagues Echo Praise
It appears Matt wasn't alone in his positive assessment of Alex Jones's hosting abilities. During the handover between shows, BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty made a playful comment about Alex's performance, saying: "Alex was brilliant!"
Matt responded enthusiastically: "Wasn't she? Well done Alex, if Alex ever wants to walk away from The One Show for a week, here I am!" Naga then teased: "Well, I think she's professional enough to do both, personally."
Matt's Australian Break and Minor Injury
While Matt appeared on Saturday Kitchen the week before his Australian trip, he confirmed this was a pre-recorded edition. During his time away, he posted regular updates from Australia on his Instagram account, keeping fans informed of his travels.
Upon his return to the kitchen, Matt mentioned a minor injury he had sustained, explaining to viewers: "If anyone is worried about my finger at home by the way, the blue plaster, we got brand new knives and I managed to cut myself on the brand new knife, I have had two weeks off."
MasterChef The Professionals Update
Matt's return to Saturday Kitchen comes shortly after revelations that he won't be rejoining MasterChef The Professionals after just one series. In a statement addressing fan inquiries, he revealed: "A lot of lovely people have contacted me about not doing the next series of MasterChef: The Professionals."
He clarified his position, saying: "I was only ever doing one series and I loved judging on it and will continue working with MasterChef." Rumours suggest there may be plans for Matt to make occasional appearances as a special guest on the cooking competition show in the future.
Saturday Kitchen's Guest Lineup
During Alex Jones's hosting stint on March 7, viewers were treated to appearances by several notable guests. Mike Reid, Adejoké Bakare, Bryn Williams and special guest Phil Wang all joined Alex in the kitchen, creating an entertaining and diverse episode that clearly impressed both the regular host and industry colleagues.
Saturday Kitchen continues to be available for viewers on BBC iPlayer, maintaining its position as a staple of weekend morning television programming. The show's blend of cooking demonstrations, celebrity guests and lighthearted banter appears to be in safe hands with Matt Tebbutt back at the helm, though Alex Jones has certainly proven herself as a capable stand-in when needed.
