Gregg Wallace will be succeeded by food columnist Grace Dent in the upcoming edition of the BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef.
Dent, a writer for The Guardian and a former I’m A Celebrity participant, will join the regular MasterChef host John Torode as a judge for the show’s 20th season next year.
Wallace is confronting accusations of inappropriate conduct from over a dozen individuals spanning a 17-year timeframe.
It was disclosed last month that he would be stepping down from his role as a presenter on MasterChef, in light of an independent review into historical misconduct allegations.
‘So thrilled I can’t eat’
Dent, aged 51, has frequently appeared as a guest judge on the program and participated in MasterChef: Battle Of The Critics last year.
As The Guardian’s restaurant critic, she also hosts the Comfort Eating podcast, where she discusses culinary topics with various celebrities.
In a statement following the news, she remarked: “I have been a fan of MasterChef since I was young, enjoying it alongside my dad on the couch. My entire family watches it. It celebrates and highlights talent – and to find myself in this position is truly a dream come true.”
She further stated: “I’m so thrilled that I can’t eat, which is quite detrimental for a food critic. I consider it a privilege to be stepping in for the next season of Celebrity MasterChef. I eagerly anticipate meeting the new celebrity personalities in 2025.”
Torode commented: “Working with Grace on MasterChef over the years has been a delightful experience. She has been an outstanding guest, an inspiring critic, and has created some remarkable challenges. MasterChef is all about expertise, from our contestants to our exceptional production crew, to us as judges.
“The passion for food, the admiration for MasterChef, and that undeniable expertise, make Grace the ideal individual to join me as a judge for the upcoming Celebrity MasterChef series.”
Read more:
Torode on ‘truly upsetting’ Wallace allegations
Wallace claims ‘tip of the iceberg’ – former contestant
Nestle memo reveals BBC was aware of ‘unacceptable’ behavior
Wallace apologises for disparaging remarks about his accusers
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From 2 December: Gregg Wallace apologises for video
MasterChef executive editor David Ambler also praised Dent’s “knowledge”, along with her “humor and finely-tuned taste.”
Kalpna Patel-Knight, the BBC’s head of entertainment, remarked that the “dynamic” Dent is the “ideal selection”.
The latest series of MasterChef: The Professionals continued to be broadcast amid a barrage of allegations against Wallace.
Nonetheless, two festive specials of Celebrity MasterChef, one being a Christmas Cook Off and the other the MasterChef Strictly Festive Extravaganza featuring Strictly Come Dancing stars, have been removed from the BBC’s holiday programming.
Wallace’s legal representatives previously informed the BBC: “It is completely untrue that he engages in conduct of a sexually harassing nature.”
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Gregg Wallace addresses allegations
Downing Street condemns Wallace’s comments
Immediately following the emergence of the allegations, Wallace created a video in which he disparaged his accusers as “middle-class women of a particular age”.
These comments were met with significant backlash – including from Downing Street, where a representative for the Prime Minister labeled them as “entirely inappropriate and misogynistic”.
In response, Wallace shared a subsequent video in which he expressed regret and stated that he “wasn’t in a good place” when he made those remarks.
