NEW MasterChef host Grace Dent broke down in tears when she tried her hand in the famous kitchen as a chef.
The restaurant critic, 51, went up against her peers Leyla Kazim, William Sitwell, Jimi Famurewa and Jay Rayner last year to see if they could rustle up something worthy of one of their glowing reviews.
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The pressure certainly got to Grace, who uncharacteristically wept after being praised by John Torode and his under fire former co-host Gregg Wallace.
Her butter chicken dish with rice went down a storm, with Torode telling her it was “joyous” and that he “loved it”, while Wallace said: “I could honestly just eat that by the ladle full. Well done you.”
Picking up on her surprise, he continued: “God, you’re speechless. I’ve never seen you like this before. You alright, kid?”
A visibly moved Grace replied: “Oh don’t, honestly.
“In my head, I was going to say lots of witty things here and there was going to be lots of banter but I’m just sitting here with my lip wobbling.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s up with me.”
After the compliments, she said to camera: “I didn’t realise how emotional I was about it all until they said they liked my food at the end.
“It lifts all the pressure off you. I just felt lighter and giddy and certainly a little it proud of myself.”
A year later, Grace has been elevated to show co-host after Wallace was axed amid allegations of misconduct.
He faces allegations from at least 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period — with others coming forward since the scandal broke.
She said of her appointment today: “I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa. My whole family watches it.
“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 Torode, who has presented MasterChef since 2005, 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.”
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.