For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of John Torode and Grace Dent. The restaurant critic will judge the next series of Celebrity MasterChef alongside Torode, it has been announced. Dent, 51, will judge the upcoming 20th series of Celebrity MasterChef following news last month that Gregg Wallace will step away from the role amid an external review into historical allegations of misconduct. Issue date: Thursday July 25, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Masterchef. Photo credit should read: BBC/PA WireNOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.
Grace Dent has opened up about her relationship with John Torode (Picture: BBC/PA Wire)

Key Points

summary__ai-icon

  • Grace Dent has praised John Torode as a kind, clever, and thoughtful person.
  • Dent also discussed Gregg Wallace’s ‘strong personality’ following his sacking from the show and controversial comments.
  • This comes as Dent and Torode are set to co-present the upcoming Celebrity MasterChef.

Created with AI assistance. Quality assured by Metro editors.

Grace Dent has made her feelings towards John Torode clear as she praised the chef as ‘kind and clever’.

The new presenter of MasterChef, has taken over from John Torode and Gregg Wallace, after they were both sacked from the series for their behaviour.

Dent, 52, is set to present Celebrity MasterChef alongside Torode, 60, which begins on November 17, and has revealed her true opinions about him.

‘I absolutely adore John Torode,’ she told The Sunday Times.

‘He is one of the kindest, most concerned, clever, thoughtful men that I know.’

She added that they are friends for life, and his career is entering a post-MasterChef era.

TX DATE:08-11-2024,TX WEEK:45,EMBARGOED UNTIL:29-10-2024 00:01,DESCRIPTION:**STRICTLY EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 00:01 HRS ON TUESDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2024**,COPYRIGHT:Shine TV,CREDIT LINE:BBC/Shine TV
Grace Dent has opened up about her feelings towards the former MasterChef hosts (Picture: CREDIT LINE: BBC/Shine TV)

TX DATE:,TX WEEK:36,EMBARGOED UNTIL:27-08-2024 00:01,DESCRIPTION:Judges **STRICTLY EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL TUESDAY 27TH AUGUST 2024**,COPYRIGHT:Shine TV,CREDIT LINE:BBC/Shine TV
Gregg Wallace and John Torode were the previous hosts (Picture: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Shine TV)

She also shared her thoughts about Wallace: ‘He was always a very, very big character.

‘After reading the entire [inquiry] report, my recollections of having a nice time with him, drinking coffee and having a biscuit now and again is pretty much irrelevant.

‘For me to sit here now and go, “Well, that’s not the Gregg that I knew,” is beside the point because it’s not about what I think.’

She added: ‘He said an awful lot, and that was during the point when I was starting my new [MasterChef] job and I utterly cut myself off from all of that.’

She looked to the future of the show, which will see Dent co-host the series alongside Anna Haugh, 45, an Irish chef and former protégée of Gordon Ramsay.

‘MasterChef was a very male place for the whole time I was there — utter male energy all the time,’ she said.

‘To be there now with a woman by my side, it’s fantastic.’

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Anna Haugh (left) and Grace Dent, who have been announced as the new judges for MasterChef, after former co-hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode were sacked from the show following a review into Wallace???s alleged misconduct. Issue date: Thursday July 25, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.
Haugh and Dent will lead the new series (Picture: BBC/PA Wire)

Wallace, 60, was sacked after facing accusations of making ‘inappropriate sexual jokes’, lewd comments on set, asking for the phone numbers of female members of production staff, and undressing in front of and standing ‘too close’ to women working on his shows.

Wallace issued an apology saying he was ‘deeply sorry for any distress caused’ and that he ‘never set out to harm or humiliate’.

He subsequently filed a legal claim for up to £10,000 in damages, alleging that the BBC failed to comply with a request for copies of his personal data, which caused ‘distress and harassment’.

Torode was sacked following a claim that he ‘used the N-word’ on two separate occasions, which he said he has no memory of.

Arrow
MORE: Meet the Celebrity MasterChef 2025 contestants ahead of new season airing soon

Arrow
MORE: The biggest scandals that rocked the BBC – From MasterChef to Strictly and more

Arrow
MORE: Who is on Celebrity MasterChef 2025? Cast confirmed for series filmed with John Torode

TV Newsletter

Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.