For once the internet was remarkably united...
It’s the question MasterChef fans have been waiting for: who will replace Gregg Wallace as the host of the show? Last month, the broadcaster stepped away from MasterChef following allegations of misconduct. Ever since, people have been speculating about who will be next to host the show. Now, a replacement has finally been announced and it’s Grace Dent. The author and podcaster has already made several appearances as a guest on the show, and last year was a contestant on MasterChef: Battle Of The Critics. Now, she’s set to host the 20th series of Celebrity MasterChef which is set to air in 2025. Speaking about the news, Grace said ‘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.’ She continued ‘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.’ Grace is a restaurant critic for the Guardian, and hosts the podcast, Comfort Eating with Grace Dent. But she also graced our screens as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity in 2023, where she left the jungle after just a week on medical grounds. At the time, Grace described her exit as ‘overwhelmingly sad’ and thanked fans for the ‘outpouring of love.’ John Torode, who has presented MasterChef since 2005, said: ‘I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges. Expertise is what MasterChef is all about, from the contestants to our wonderful production team, to us as judges,’ adding ‘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.’ People have taken to X to share how pleased they are with the news. Guardian food critic Jay Rayner wrote ‘Huge congrats to my dear friend and colleague Grace on stepping up as judge for @MasterChefUK. A terrific choice. She’ll be brilliant.’ Another user wrote ‘Grace Dent is an exceptional food writer! Delighted that she will be replacing Greg Wallace in the Masterchef series.’
Another made a reference to Gregg Wallace’s insult that the allegations against him came from ‘middle class women of a certain age’ writing ‘Gregg Wallace, looks like middle class women of a certain age are having the last laugh. Will be tuning in to watch Grace Dent.’ Another wrote ‘What a choice! Grace Dent to replace Greg Wallace on #MasterChef .. Grace being a middle class woman of a certain age .. Wonder how that sits with you Greg?’
The news comes at a turbulent time for the popular BBC show. While Gregg Wallace is currently being investigated over allegations of sexual misconduct, the BBC has pulled two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials, a Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza from its schedule. The recent series of MasterChef: The Professionals continued to air amid fresh allegations against Wallace. The most recent celebrity to speak out against Wallace is Penny Lancaster, a former contestant on the show, who said she witnessed and was a victim of bullying and harassment by Wallace, who has denied claims of misconduct. Kalpna Patel-Knight, the BBC’s head of entertainment, said ‘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.’
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