Grace Dent steps in as judge for Celebrity MasterChef 2025 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

2 days ago

Grace Dent will join John Torode as a judge for the upcoming season of Celebrity MasterChef, airing on BBC One and available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.

Renowned restaurant critic Grace has been a consistent presence on MasterChef for more than ten years. Last year, she also participated as a contestant in MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023.

Grace is a highly successful author and a popular podcaster. She has worked in journalism for 15 years and has frequently featured on various food-related television and radio programs over the last ten years.

As she gets ready to co-judge the upcoming 20th season of Celebrity MasterChef alongside John, Grace shares, “I’ve been a fan of MasterChef since I was a kid watching it on the couch with my dad. My entire family tunes in. The show is all about discovering and supporting talent, and being in this role feels like a dream come true for me. I’m so thrilled that I can't even eat, which isn't great for a restaurant critic. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of the next Celebrity MasterChef. I’m really looking forward to meeting the new celebrity contestants in 2025.”

John Torode expressed his enthusiasm about collaborating with Grace on MasterChef, stating, “Working with Grace over the years has been a pleasure. She has been a fantastic guest and an inspiring critic, creating some amazing challenges. MasterChef is all about skill, whether it’s the contestants, our talented production team, or us as judges. Grace's passion for food, her dedication to MasterChef, and her undeniable expertise make her the ideal choice to join me as a judge for the upcoming Celebrity MasterChef series.”

David Ambler, the Executive Editor of MasterChef, states, “Grace brings a wealth of knowledge, a keen sense of humor, and a refined taste that will significantly enhance the judging panel. The celebrity contestants will have to be on their toes this season. We can’t wait to have Grace return in 2025 as we search for the next Celebrity MasterChef champion.”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, who leads the entertainment division at the BBC, expresses: “Grace Dent is an ideal candidate to take over the next season of Celebrity MasterChef. As a vibrant and seasoned member of the MasterChef team, along with being a globally recognized food critic, she’s sure to challenge the upcoming group of celebrities.”

Grace is an acclaimed restaurant critic for The Guardian and has hosted nine seasons of the popular celebrity food podcast, Comfort Eating. Before that, she contributed food-related articles to the Evening Standard and is a best-selling author with more than 20 published works, including her memoir, Hungry, Comfort Eating, and the ‘Diary Of’ series. She has also led various TV and radio shows, from hosting BBC Radio 2 on Christmas Day and during the holiday season to presenting the BBC Radio 4 series The Untold and the BBC Four program What We Were Watching.