Gregg Wallace will likely be changed by restaurant critic Grace Dent within the subsequent sequence of the BBC’s Celeb MasterChef present.
Dent, a Guardian columnist and former I am A Celeb star, will be part of common MasterChef presenter John Torode as a decide throughout subsequent yr’s twentieth season of the cooking competitors.
Wallace is dealing with allegations of inappropriate behaviour from greater than a dozen individuals throughout a spread of reveals over a 17-year interval.
It was introduced final month that he would step away from his presenting function on MasterChef amid an exterior evaluation into historic allegations of misconduct.
Dent, 51, has appeared often as a visitor on the present and final yr took half in MasterChef: Battle Of The Critics.
She is The Guardian’s restaurant critic and likewise hosts the Consolation Consuming podcast the place she chats with celebrities about meals.
In a press release as she was introduced as Wallace’s alternative, she stated: “I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa. My whole family watches it. It’s all about uncovering and championing talent – and to have ended up in this position, is more than a dream to me.”
“I’m so excited that I can’t eat, which is severely detrimental to a restaurant critic. I feel very lucky to be stepping in for the next Celebrity MasterChef. I can’t wait to meet the fresh celebrity faces for 2025.”
Torode stated: “I’ve liked working with Grace on MasterChef through the years. She has been a wonderful visitor, an inspiring critic and likewise set some unbelievable challenges. Experience is what MasterChef is all about, from the contestants to our fantastic manufacturing staff, to us as judges.
“The love of food, the love of MasterChef, and that unquestionable expertise, makes Grace the perfect person to step in alongside me as judge for the forthcoming Celebrity MasterChef series.”
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From 2 December: Gregg Wallace apologises for video
MasterChef government editor David Ambler, says: “Grace’s expertise, wit and finely-honed palette will be great asset to the judging line-up and the celebrities will need to be sitting up straight for this series. We’re looking forward to welcoming Grace back in 2025 as we uncover a new Celebrity MasterChef champion.”
Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of leisure on the BBC says: “Grace Dent is the perfect choice to step in for the next series of Celebrity MasterChef. Grace is not only an energetic and well-established member of the MasterChef team, but is also a world renowned food critic, so she will certainly keep the next batch of celebrities on their toes.”
The newest sequence of MasterChef: The Professionals continued to air amid a storm of allegations in opposition to Wallace.
Nonetheless, two MasterChef movie star Christmas specials, a Celeb MasterChef Christmas Cook dinner Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza, have been pulled from the BBC’s festive schedule.
Wallace’s legal professionals beforehand informed the BBC “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
