GraceDent has opened up about her new role as MasterChef host after taking over from shamed former presenter Gregg Wallace as she admits the show was a ‘very male place’
Grace Dent has opened up about her MasterChef journey after she was drafted in to replace Gregg Wallace. The restaurant critic will now present Celebrity MasterChef alongside John Torode, as well as hosting the amateur version of the show alongside new co-host and former Gordon Ramsay protégée Anna Haugh, 45, an Irish chef.
Grace, 52, was given the job after Gregg, 61, was sacked in July when an independent inquiry upheld 45 allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him. Following the filming of the celebrity version, John, 60, was also sacked from MasterChef following nine complaints against him.
Just one of those was upheld, an allegation that he used “an extremely offensive racist term” in 2018 or 2019, which he vehemently denied, saying he has “no recollection” of the incident. Now Grace has addressed the issues at MasterChef, which has been airing on the BBC since 1990.
While Grace sang the praises of John admitting: “I absolutely adore John Torode. He is one of the kindest, most concerned, clever, thoughtful men that I know,” she was not so upbeat about Gregg.
Talking to The Times, she said, “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.”
Grace has regularly appeared on the show over the last decade as a critic and is now hoping to refresh the show a little alongside new co-host Anna. She explained: “MasterChef was a very male place for the whole time I was there — utter male energy all the time. To be there now with a woman by my side, it’s fantastic.”
Grace also admitted that she cried when she was given the job at MasterChef, which she referred to as the “biggest and most important food show on British television.” After it was confirmed that she was joining the show, Grace shared a statement which read, “I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa.
“My whole family watches it. It’s all about uncovering and championing talent, and to have ended up in this position is more than a dream to me. I’m so excited that I can’t eat, which is severely detrimental to a restaurant critic.
“I feel very lucky to be stepping in for the next Celebrity MasterChef. I can’t wait to meet the fresh celebrity faces for 2025.
Gregg issued a furious statement on social media, claiming that the Silkin’s Report into his alleged misconduct “exonerates him of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year.” In a lengthy post shared on social media, he wrote, “I’ve taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins report – a decision I do not take lightly. But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.
“I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me. The most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.”
He added: “My decision to go public now is also driven by the fact the BBC News division are intending to platform legally unsafe accusations, including claims which have already been investigated and not upheld by the BBC and found not credible by Silkins. The BBC is no longer providing balanced and impartial public service journalism.
“It is peddling baseless and sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories. The BBC is choosing to allow BBC News to run with this uncorroborated tittle tattle in an attempt to ‘get ahead’ of the Silkin’s summary report and derail what has been an extremely thorough process.”
Source: Mirror
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