The BBC has announced that renowned food critic Grace Dent will join Celebrity MasterChef as a judge alongside John Torode for the show's upcoming 20th series. Dent replaces longtime host Gregg Wallace, who recently stepped away from the role.
Dent, who writes restaurant reviews for The Guardian and hosts the popular "Comfort Eating" podcast, brings extensive culinary expertise to the position. She has previously appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef and competed in last year's MasterChef: Battle of The Critics.
"I've been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa," Dent said. "To have ended up in this position is more than a dream to me." The food critic expressed excitement about meeting the celebrity contestants for the 2025 series.
John Torode, who has presented MasterChef since 2005, welcomed Dent's appointment. "She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges," he said. "Her unquestionable expertise makes Grace the perfect person to step in."
The BBC's head of entertainment, Kalpna Patel-Knight, praised Dent as "an energetic and well-established member of the MasterChef team" who will "keep the next batch of celebrities on their toes."
The appointment follows Wallace's departure amid a BBC News investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct, which his lawyers have denied. The BBC subsequently pulled several MasterChef Christmas specials from its schedule.
Dent's selection marks a new chapter for the popular cooking competition. Beyond her television work, she has authored several books, including "Comfort Eating: What We Eat When Nobody's Looking" and her memoir "Hungry."
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