Celebrity MasterChef fans struggle to adapt to new judging lineup and ask ‘is that just John Torode talking with an Italian accent?’ as show relaunches with Giorgio Locatelli and Grace Dent
Celebrity MasterChef has returned to BBC screens with a revamped judging panel following the sacking of Gregg Wallace, but the show's relaunch has proved divisive among viewers. Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli has joined returning judge John Torode alongside food critic Grace Dent, with some fans on social media questioning whether Locatelli's presenting style closely echoes that of Torode, joking he sounds like "John Torode talking with an Italian accent". The reshuffle marks a significant shift for the long-running cookery competition, which has had to rebuild its format after the controversy surrounding its previous line-up.
Reaction has been mixed, with viewers taking to platforms such as X to share their views on the new dynamic between the judges, many expressing that they still miss the previous pairing. The changes follow Wallace's departure from the BBC show amid misconduct allegations, prompting producers to bring in fresh faces to steady the franchise. Locatelli, an established restaurateur and television chef, and Dent, a well-known food writer and critic, now share judging duties with Torode as the series attempts to find its footing with audiences adjusting to the new format.
- Celebrity MasterChef relaunches with new judges Giorgio Locatelli and Grace Dent
- Fans compare Locatelli's style to John Torode's "with an Italian accent"
- Changes follow Gregg Wallace's sacking from the BBC show
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Celebrity MasterChef is a spin-off of the long-running BBC cookery competition, in which well-known figures cook against each other to be judged on their culinary skills. The show's regular panel had featured Gregg Wallace and John Torode for many years, giving it a familiar format that viewers had grown used to.
Earlier this year Gregg Wallace was dropped from the BBC after misconduct allegations, leaving the production to rework its judging line-up. For the latest series, John Torode continues as a judge, joined by Italian chef and restaurateur Giorgio Locatelli and food writer and critic Grace Dent, replacing the previous pairing.
The change matters because MasterChef and its spin-offs are among the BBC's best-known formats, and a shift in judges after such a controversy is being closely watched as a test of how the show adapts and whether audiences accept the new panel.