Cliff Notes – Who could replace John Torode and Gregg Wallace as BBC’s new MasterChef judges?
- Grace Dent is a frontrunner, having already stepped in for Wallace during Celebrity MasterChef and is seen as a natural fit for the main series.
- Matt Tebbutt, known for his success on Saturday Kitchen, is also in contention, with insiders suggesting he could replicate his previous hosting success on MasterChef.
- Andi Oliver has emerged as a fan-favourite and could make history as the first Black woman to present the show, bolstered by her strong culinary credibility and public support.
Who could replace John Torode and Gregg Wallace as BBC’s new MasterChef judges?
Who could take over from fired MasterChef presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode?.
Now John Torode and Gregg Wallace have been fired from BBC’s MasterChef – who could be stepping into their shoes?
The overhaul comes after an independent review commissioned by production company Banijay, into misconduct accusations against Wallace, 60, upheld 45 of the 83 allegations, leading to his official removal from the cooking reality series.
Torode, 59, exited hot on his heels after admitting he was subject to the racial language accusation featured in the review, although he has claimed he has ‘no recollection’ of the incident.
The BBC is now deciding what to do with all their pre-recorded content, including one MasterChef season with Torode and Wallace, and a Celebrity MasterChef season, as well as two festive specials with just Torode.
The broadcaster has reiterated its commitment to giving the amateur chefs featured in the unaired season their chance to shine.
Meanwhile, the director-general Tim Davie has said he sees a future for the show beyond 2028 (the year until which the contract is currently renewed), all of which means, new hosts are likely to be announced at some point.
According to the latest rumours, here’s who could be helming the show for its fresh start.
Grace Dent
Celebrity Masterchef star Grace Dent could be a permanent replacement
Coming in strong as a frontrunner is restaurant critic Grace Dent, who was already tipped to be replacing Wallace even before Torode’s sacking.
The I’m A Celeb star, 51, started her journey on the BBC reality competition series as a contestant on the 2023 Christmas special.
After Wallace was removed from the series at the end of 2024 after the misconduct allegation first came to light, Dent stepped in for him alongside Torode to film the new season of Celebrity MasterChef.
Although it was unclear whether she would make the jump to the amateur series as a permanent replacement for Gregg, all signs point towards yes.
Last week, The Sun reported that she was being lined up to take over to provide the show with a ‘fresh start’.
‘Grace is a natural fit for the show,’ a source told the publication. ‘She is also hosting Celebrity MasterChef alongside John. Grace loves to support up-and-coming talent in the industry and loves the format of the show.’
Meanwhile, Pointless host Richard Osman added on the Rest is Entertainment podcast: ‘Grace Dent hosted half of the celebrity one – whether we’ll see that or not – but she can continue to host the celebrity one very very easily.’
Matt Tebbutt
Matt Tebbutt is tipped for The Professionals and could be on the main series as well
Earlier this year, BBC star Matt Tebbutt, 51, was posed as a potential replacement on both The Professionals and the traditional series after his success almost decade-long success presenting Saturday Kitchen.
‘Matt rose to the challenge of coming into Saturday Kitchen after it was previously hosted by another big name in the world of food, James Martin,’ an insider told The Sun at the time.
The source added: ‘He managed the feat of making it his own and almost making viewers forget who his predecessor was – now Beeb bosses, and the show producers Banijay, will be hoping he can work the same magic on MasterChef.’
Osman added: ‘There are so many great food presenters, Matt Tebbutt is now doing stuff on the professionals one for example, he’d be an amazing host for it.’
What’s more, in recent weeks, Tebbutt has also hinted that his tenure on Saturday Kitchen could come to an end in the near future.
‘It’s going to stop at some point. I’m going to have to do something,’ he said on a podcast in March.
Andi Oliver
Great British Menu’s Andi Oliver is leading the odds right now
Great British Menu star Andi Oliver, 62, has come forward as a top candidate to take over.
According to whataretheodds.co.uk, the Gogglebox star has quickly become the fan-favourite at 5/2.
‘Known for her upbeat energy and authority on Great British Menu, Andi’s culinary credibility has made her a top choice among fans and bookmakers alike,’ the site explained, per the Mirror.
This casting would also mean she makes history as the first Black woman to present the show.
Speaking about the MasterChef scandal when it first kicked off last year, Oliver told The Guardian ‘there’s a certain culture that allows it to happen.’
The Stirring It Up podcast host (presented with her daughter Miquita Oliver) added: ‘Culture will only change if we stop all the fake outrage and actually implement change.’
Tom Kerridge
English Tom Kerridge is also a leading option
Michelin-starred English chef Tom Kerridge is hot on Oliver’s heels with his odds at 3/1.
The multi-restaurant owner (Hand and Flowers and Coach) has hosted various BBC shows including The Hidden World of Hospitality, Tom Kerridge’s Fresh Start and Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge – so he has form.
Odds analyst Dave James told The Mirror that Tom ‘is attracting a lot of support.’
James added: ‘His profile is huge, and he’s one of the most trusted names in British food. This could come down to what direction the BBC wants – prestige, relatability, or a bit of both.’
Poppy O’Toole
Poppy O’Toole has made the leap from TikTok star to ITV chef
Influencer Poppy O’Toole is a more left-field suggestion, but going strong in the odds at 4/1.
The TikTok star grew to fame for her ‘potato’ series in which she showcased the many, many ways you can cook the humble spud. Now, she boasts 4.8 million followers.
The chef, who has a strong following among the younger generation, has also made the jump to mainstream media as a regular fixture on ITV’s This Morning and has even appeared as a judge on Cooking with the Stars.
The cookbook writer could well draw in new viewers to the show as it heralds in a new era.
Others in the running
Everyone from Angela Hartnett to Nadiya Hussain has been floated
There are several other names in the mix from the high-profile stars such as James Martin and Nigella Lawson, to those who have already played in the MasterChef field.
This includes The Professionals judge Marcus Wareing and Irish chef Anna Haugh, who has stepped in for Wallace already.
British-Italian cook Angela Hartnett, who was Gordon Ramsey’s protégée, has also been floated as an option with her odds at 5/1.
She has also appeared as a judge on Great British Menu with Andi, giving them a pre-existing working relationship.
Finally, Great British Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain’s name has also been floated – although the BBC recently announced they would not be producing anymore shows with her, which she has vocally criticised.