Grace Dent, a renowned restaurant critic, has been appointed as the newest judge for “Celebrity MasterChef,” taking over from Gregg Wallace who recently departed amidst allegations of historical misconduct. Dent, who has been a familiar face on the BBC cooking competition for many years, will join John Torode on the judging panel for the show’s upcoming 20th series. This announcement comes at a time of upheaval for the franchise, with the BBC canceling its Christmas specials following Wallace’s controversial response to the misconduct allegations.
Expressing her excitement about the new role, Dent 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.” Torode also shared his enthusiasm about working with Dent, praising her as an excellent guest, inspiring critic, and creator of incredible challenges.
Dent brings a wealth of culinary experience to the judging role, with an award-winning restaurant review column for The Guardian, hosting the celebrity food podcast “Comfort Eating,” and participating in “MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023.” She is also the author of over 20 books. The BBC’s head of entertainment, Kalpna Patel-Knight, described Dent as “the perfect choice,” highlighting her long-standing presence on the “MasterChef” team and her reputation as a world-renowned food critic.
The decision to appoint Dent as a judge follows Wallace’s decision to step back from the show after allegations of inappropriate sexual comments surfaced. A total of 13 people who worked with Wallace across five shows between 2005 and 2022 came forward with the allegations. Production company Banijay U.K. is currently investigating the claims, which Wallace’s lawyers have vehemently denied as “entirely false.”
Fans can look forward to the new season of “Celebrity MasterChef” with Dent at the helm, set to air in 2025. With Dent’s expertise and passion for food, the show is sure to continue its tradition of showcasing culinary talent and creating engaging challenges for contestants.
