Saturday Kitchen chef, Matt Tebbutt, is rumoured to be replacing Gregg Wallace as co-host and judge on the next series of MasterChef, as well as its spin-off MasterChef: The Professionals.
The chef and restaurateur is reportedly in talks with producers at the BBC, and would be joining long-time judge John Torrode for the next series of the show. Tebbut first rose to fame as a TV chef on Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped, before taking over from James Martin on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. He has also appeared as a guest judge on BBC's Great British Menu over the years.
The news comes after Wallace withdrew from the role back in November, following several allegations of sexual misconduct during his 17 years working on the show and its spin-offs. Wallace denied the allegations, but stepped back from the role whilst the complaints were investigated. At the time, he was in the midst of filming the next series of amateur MasterChef, with chef Anna Haugh (Myrtle Restaurant) briefly taking over as co-host for the last few days of filming.
Food-critic and TV personality Grace Dent has already stepped up to replace Wallace for the celebrity iteration of the show, although it was unclear whether she would take over for the amateur or professional versions of the show. Now it appears that fellow BBC star Matt Tebbut is the front runner for the job, although nothing has been officially confirmed.
Following the rumours, a TV insider has said: ‘Matt rose to the challenge of coming into Saturday Kitchen after it was previously hosted by another big name in the world of food, James Martin.
‘He managed the feat of making it his own and almost making viewers forget who his predecessor was - now Beeb bosses, and the show producers Banijay, will be hoping he can work the same magic on MasterChef.’
In the meantime, catch up with what’s going on in season 20 of Great British Menu.