Celebrity MasterChef contestant Jay McGuiness has described the "unsettling" presence of the show's new judge, Giorgio Locatelli. The BBC cookery show has undergone a major revamp, with new hosts replacing Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
New Judges Take Over MasterChef
Restaurant critic Grace Dent and Irish chef Anna Haugh now front the main show, while Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli, known for MasterChef Italia, joins Grace for the celebrity spin-off. Locatelli has admitted to adopting the "bad cop" role in the series.
In the upcoming season, Giorgio and Grace will judge dishes from weightlifter Emily Campbell, broadcaster Jason Mohammad, comedian Joe Pasquale, Love Island's Shakira Khan, and Jay McGuiness of The Wanted.
Jay's Take on the Judges
In an interview with The Sun's TV Mag, Jay revealed which judge he found most intimidating. "Probably Giorgio, because he was new to Celebrity MasterChef, and he came in with restrained 'daddy' energy – that slow power that walks into a room is quite unsettling," he said.
He added: "He had that composed calm that unsettles me because I can't read those sort of people. Also, Grace has just the right amount of zippy madness. I wanted to go and hang out in her kitchen afterwards and drink wine with her."
Giorgio's Culinary Legacy
Michelin-starred Giorgio Locatelli's career spans four decades, with work in Italy and Switzerland before moving to England, where he worked at The Savoy under Anton Edelmann. In 2002, he opened Locanda Locatelli in London, a celebrity haunt for figures like Kate Moss and Brad Pitt, which closed in 2025 after 23 years.
He has since opened Osteria Locatelli with his wife Plaxy in the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery. Speaking about his BBC role, he called it a "real honour", adding: "I can't wait for you to see what our celebrity contestants bring to the kitchen, as we are really putting their culinary skills to the test in this series."
Celebrity MasterChef airs on BBC One tonight (August 18) from 9pm to 10pm.
