MasterChef Reviews: Critics Say Anna Haugh And Grace Dent Have 'Saved' The Show

The new duo have officially taken over from Gregg Wallace and John Torode, with a new season now underway.

After a well-documented period of controversy for MasterChef, the show entered a new era on Tuesday night as it kicked off its latest season in style.

Following the departures of Gregg Wallace and John Torode under their own respective dark clouds, the launch show formally introduced new resident judges Anna Haugh and Grace Dent, and the pair have already received a wave of praise for their opening episode.

The Guardian gave the latest instalment a four-star review, hailing MasterChef’s new iteration as “warmer, sharper and funnier than ever”.

In The Guardian’s piece, Anna was hailed as “friendly and not afraid to joke with a contestant or express delight”, while the duo were equally praised for how obviously they’ve “got this whole thing under control, so we can stop worrying” about how they’ll fare as the show’s new faces and focus on the show itself.

Similarly, in its own four-star review, The Telegraph hailed the launch show as a “triumph”, enthusing: “They work well together. Haugh, the experienced chef, is in the Torode role. She’s lovely and warm, knowledgeable without being condescending.

“Dent, the restaurant critic, also knows her onions when it comes to food. She brings the glamour in a slinky black dress, with big jewellery and fake lashes.”

A piece in iNews went as far as praising Anna for “saving” MasterChef, while The Times’ critic celebrated her as a “a natural on camera”, while hailing Grace’s “easy way with people and with words”, describing the show itself as “absolutely fine” and “all quite smooth, if a little workaday”.

In late 2024, after 20 years at the helm of MasterChef, it was announced that Gregg Wallace was taking a hiatus from his judging and presenting roles on MasterChef while the show’s production company Banijay UK, in collaboration with the law firm Lewis Silkin, investigated complaints made about his past behaviour that had been made to the BBC.

Months later, the BBC confirmed he would not be returning, ahead of the news that more than half of the complaints about him had been upheld, including allegations of him using sexual language and one case of unwanted physical contact.

In response, Gregg made a public apology for “any distress caused” by his behaviour, while also noting that he was cleared of what he described as “the most serious and sensational accusations”.

Shortly after this, John Torode was dropped from the show too, after a complaint about his use of alleged racist language was upheld, though he has insisted he has “no recollection” of the incident he had been accused of.

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