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John Torode’s cold statement snubs Gregg Wallace as Grace Dent replaces shamed star on MasterChef
Grace cried when she tried her hand in the MasterChef kitchen last year
JOHN Torode made no mention of his shamed MasterChef co-star Gregg Wallace as his successor was revealed.
Today the BBC confirmed that restaurant critic Grace Dent, 51, will replace Wallace for series 20.
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Australian chef Torode was slow to put out a statement after it was revealed the BBC was launching an investigation into claims of Wallace's alleged misconduct over a 17 year span.
When he finally did address the fallout, there were no words of support for his under fire co-host.
Now he has welcomed Dent into the role and is relishing working with her.
He said: "I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years.
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"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."
Dent, who starred on I'm A Celebrity last year, has been a guest star on the programme for years and even tried her hand in the famous kitchen last December.
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She impressed both Torode and Wallace with her butter chicken dish and their compliments reduced her to tears.
Today she said: "I've been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa. My whole family watches it.
Watch the moment new MasterChef host Grace Dent is reduced to tears by Gregg Wallace and John Torode
"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."
Meanwhile we recently revealed 60-year-old Gregg considers his telly career all but done after becoming embroiled in the scandal which has seen a number of women accusing him of making inappropriate comments.
A source told us: "Gregg's conceded he has lost everything. To put it bluntly, he's told people, 'I'm f***ed'."
"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."
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Gregg Wallace - MasterChef scandal in Brief
GREGG Wallace has stepped down from his MasterChef hosting role after a probe into alleged inappropriate behaviour. But what's the situation?
Regular MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is currently the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
Gregg has been accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb anchor Kirsty Wark - accusations he denies.
The 60-year-old has now stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
Yet the former greengrocer spoke out on social media to blast the "women of a certain age" who he claimed were behind the allegations.
The cooking show’s production company, Banijay UK, has said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
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