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It wasn’t so long ago that I assumed the reputation of MasterChef had been charred beyond repair. But now, thanks to its new presenters, I have hope that something can be retrieved and restored from the ashes.
After months of speculation, it was confirmed this week that restaurant critic Grace Dent and Irish chef Anna Haugh would be stepping into the kitchen and replacing Gregg Wallace and John Torode as hosts.
Consequently, they are trusted with a British institution. Everyone knows MasterChef, even if they don’t watch it. It’s as much a pillar of BBC evening entertainment as Mastermind or The One Show, meaning simply signing up for the job catapults Dent and Haugh towards household name status by default.
Personally, I can’t think of anyone better to step up to the plate because, after a year of salacious scandals, not only does MasterChef need fresh meat, it needs a complete overhaul.
Wallace, 60, was axed from the cookery show following a string of misconduct allegations. An investigation was carried out, upholding 45 out of 83 claims made about his behaviour, to which the co-host said he was ‘deeply sorry for any distress caused’.
Meanwhile, Torode, also 60, made national headlines shortly after for allegedly using ‘an extremely offensive racist term.’ While he insists he has no recollection of the incident, the official report upheld this accusation, too.
As such, the perception we all had of this staple of midweek evening TV quickly shifted. It went from a cosy, lighthearted show offering occasional meal inspo to a shame-riddled wreckage where the real drama was taking place behind the camera.
But now, with two women at the helm, both of whom are experts in their fields and with the gift of the gab in their own way, I think MasterChef is sending the right message.
I’m reluctant to even call them ‘replacements’ because, to me, that suggests Dent and Haugh are sloppy seconds.
In reality, provided the BBC recognises the value of their assets here, I reckon there’s every reason to believe they can far exceed the star rating of their predecessors.
Dent, whom you might also recognise from 2023’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has been refining the art of food critiquing for decades, beginning her career as an assistant for Marie Claire after graduation, before working her way up and becoming an award-winning columnist.
She has numerous broadcasting experiences under her belt, whether it be stints on panel shows, radio slots or her regular appearances as a critic on MasterChef: The Professionals and Celebrity MasterChef. She knows her crème caramel from her crème brûlée, and as someone who has featured on the show’s spinoffs, brings a sense of familiarity and knowledge without the taint of scandal.
As for Haugh, she’s not only been a guest judge on MasterChef,but she’s also she’s been grafting alongside titans of the food industry for years, and there’s barely a food-related programme she hasn’t touched.
From Ready Steady Cook and Hell’s Kitchen to Saturday Kitchen, her easy charm has been sprinkled throughout the food and drink TV scene.
And when it comes to offering advice to budding cooks and appraising their creations, it’s a task she’s well acquainted with, having founded her own restaurant and, as of last year, an adjacent wine bar.
Some may have wanted a cleaner break, to have presenters with zero connection to the franchise.
But Dent and Haugh gave us a taste of what they can do, and now, finally, they’re quite rightly being given their seats as heads of the table, while audiences can trust that they’re in safe hands.
Of course, the pair’s merits speak for themselves, and to suggest that they are only worthy MasterChef successors because they are women would not just be backwards but deeply insulting.
However, it cannot be ignored that switching out two problematic white men who have been a feature on the BBC for 20 years for women with sparkling reputations and the credentials to back them up is a powerful move.
Particularly after Wallace’s earlier jibe about some accusations of misconduct against him coming from ‘women of a certain age’, having presenters in Haugh and Dent, aged 44 and 51, respectively feels like a satisfying two fingers to the old regime.
Ultimately, I hope this shift can symbolise a new era, not just for Masterchef, but for the whole institution of the BBC.
There’s no denying that the public’s faith in the once-beloved broadcaster has dwindled, whether it be due to newsreader impropriety or Strictly scandals.
I wholeheartedly believe Dent and Haugh are just what they need. Their casting represents taking the tired, juvenile blokey humour we’ve become accustomed to off the menu and whipping up something far more appetising.
Sure, it might take a while for MasterChef viewers to fully remove the lingering stench of Wallace and Torode’s actions from their nostrils, but when it comes to a palate cleanser, I can’t think of anything better than what’s now on our plates.
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