Restaurant critic Grace Dent has been assigned as the novel appraise for “Celebrity MasterChef,” stepping into the role vacated by Gregg Wallace follotriumphg his departure amid historical wrongdoing allegations.
Dent, who has been a standard guest on the BBC cooking competition for over a decade, will join John Torode on the judging panel for the show’s upcoming 20th series. The proclaimment comes during a turbulent period for the franchise, which saw the BBC pull its Christmas one-of-a-kinds follotriumphg Wallace’s disputed response to wrongdoing allegations.
“I’ve been watching ‘MasterChef’ since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa,” Dent said. “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 compriseed: “I have adored toiling with Grace on ‘MasterChef’ over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible contests.”
Dent transports meaningful culinary credentials to the role, including an award-triumphning restaurant appraise column for The Guardian and nine seasons arrangeing the celebrity food podcast “Comfort Eating.” She previously contendd in “MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023” and has authored more than 20 books.
The BBC’s head of delightment, Kalpna Patel-Knight, called Dent “the perfect choice,” citing her set uped presence on the “MasterChef” team and reputation as a “world commemorated food critic.”
The assignment pursues Wallace’s step-back from the show after BBC News spendigated allegations of inappropriate relationsual comments by 13 people who toiled with him atraverse five shows between 2005 and 2022. Production company Banijay U.K. is directing an spendigation into the claims, which Wallace’s lawyers say are “enticount on inchange.”
The novel season of “Celebrity MasterChef” with Dent is set to air in 2025.
