BBC has recently reported an all-female presenting team hosting a MasterChef following sacking of Gregg Wallace and John Torode who had formerly been the judges. The show will be hosted by Grace Dent, the restaurant critic of the Guardian, with the Irish chef Anna Haugh already becoming part of the BBC cooking programmes. The two have a past experience in being guest judges in the show.
The BBC has already verified that Haugh already replaced Wallace in the remaining episodes of the present amateur version of MasterChef which was recorded at the end of last year. Only then did Wallace withdraw himself off the programme a series of allegations were raised against his behaviour.
In the next series of the MasterChef: “The Professionals, the TV host and chef Matter Tebbutt has already been announced as a judge to replace Wallace.
Dent, who has appeared as a frequent guest critic on MasterChef over 10 years, said:
“I’m over the moon to be coming back to the MasterChef kitchen and unearthing what culinary skills people have been cooking up behind closed doors.
“It’s a joy to be working with Anna, who brings all her incredible experience to the table. I am in for such a treat with this series, I can’t wait to get started.”
Haugh said she had admired Dent’s ”writing and wiy” for years.
“MasterChef has long inspired and resonated with cools in home kitchens and of course in my industry,” she said. “I can’t wait to get into the studio for what will be a great competition.”
It follows the drop of Wallace who was found not guilty of 45 allegations brought against him, each involving an inappropriate use of sexual language and one incident of unwanted physical contact.
He has apologised that it has upset him but the report vindicated him against the most serious and sensational charges.
Torode also left as a presenter, following an upheld complaint about the possibility of using racist language.
A BBC spokesperson said in July: “John Torode denied the allegation. He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He has says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
The MasterChef executive editor, David Ambler said: “Both are enormously respected in the hospitality industry and we can’t wait for them to uncover some great cooking talent- from home kitchens across the country.”
The BBC decided to air the most recent amateur version of the show even though Wallace and Torode were heavily involved and this was done after consulting with the contestants and due to the efforts the amateur chefs made.
