Following the exit of John Torode and Gregg Wallace, the BBC will reportedly be switching the format of the show as the new judges of the embattled show appear to have been confirmed
The new judges for MasterChef appear to have been confirmed as an I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star and a guest on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. A major shake-up has occurred following Gregg Wallace and John Torode being dropped from the long-running BBC programme.
The show will have a completely different feel when it returns, with Grace Dent and Anna Haugh set to replace the disgraced former male presenters. Television audiences will remember Grace, 51, bravely tackling revolting bushtucker trials on ITV’s I’m A Celeb in 2023, reports the Mirror.
Meanwhile, eagle-eyed viewers might recognise restaurateur Anna, 44, from her appearance on Hell’s Kitchen back in 2013. MasterChef enthusiasts will soon witness the pair mentoring hopefuls in the kitchen and sampling their creations when the programme makes its comeback after Wallace and Torode’s departures, both aged 60.
An insider revealed to The Sun: “It’s really exciting that two women are judging the show, especially as, historically, it’s been dominated by men, but coming to the decision hasn’t been easy.
“Grace and Anna have brilliant chemistry. They know it’s a big responsibility and can’t wait to deliver for the fans.”
It has been a chaotic year for the popular series – which witnessed the dramatic departure of both its stars. Wallace found himself at the centre of scandal last November when accusations of misconduct emerged regarding his conduct on the BBC programme.
After a thorough inquiry, the Corporation determined that Wallace’s behaviour “falls below the values of the BBC” and announced it has “no plans to work with him in the future.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the claims against Wallace as “horrendous and appalling” at the time.
She continued: “This case highlights a wider issue and much more must be done to ensure that everyone working in the creative industries is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.”
Several months afterwards, Torode found himself facing accusations of employing racist terminology. Following a probe by the BBC and Masterchef production firm Banijay, his contract went unrenewed.
The Australian-British presenter showed contrition for his conduct – issuing a public statement after the allegations surfaced.
He stated: “For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion.”
Speaking about the incident, thought to have occurred in 2018 or 2019, in greater depth, he acknowledged: “[The] person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards”.
He went on: “I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.
“However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”
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