Grace Dent, a restaurant critic and columnist, appeared as permanent judge on Celebrity MasterChef for the first time on Tuesday evening, replacing scandal-hit Gregg Wallace
Celebrity MasterChef viewers branded the start of the new series “boring” last night.
Fans took to X to express their disappointment, particularly at the permanent debut of Grace Dent as judge. Some viewers even said they switched off early because they found the episode to be so uneventful.
Ashley Cain, singer Alfie Boe, rugby player Alun Wyn Jones, radio DJ Noreen Khan, and Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley went head to head in three challenges on the BBC1 programme. Writing on X, one viewer said: “The word ‘celebrity’ doing a lot of heavy lifting today.”
Their view that the show was boring was reflected across social media. Another said: “Can’t watch Grace Dent! Bad watch.” Another posted: “They’re dragging this taste test out. It’s a bit boring. Just get on with it… Who is this woman it’s rubbish, now switched off.”
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Celebrities picked out ingredients from the MasterChef larder to create a dish with a mystery food under a cloche during the first challenge. After a good start – bar Noreen swiftly picking up her cake up off the floor – the second round tested the five celebrities palette. The stars had to correctly guess what the ingredient is while blindfolded.
Alun Wyn received ten minutes extra cooking time in the next challenge after guessing the most ingredients correctly. The celebrities then had to battle it out at the MasterChef Street Market, with judges John Torode and Grace asking the stars to create something they would serve from their own food truck.
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Grace, 52, has replaced Gregg Wallace, who was sacked following a probe into his behaviour that saw 45 out of 83 complaints against him upheld. Grace, who is a restaurant critic and columnist, became emotional during an episode of The One Show last month, after the presenters read messages from viewers. They had seen her on previous guest stints on Celebrity MasterChef.
Host Clara Amfo said: “The people have spoken and you are smashing it. Lovely Jill messaged in saying ‘Grace is a breath of fresh air and really fair and encouraging to the contestants.”
Scott Mills said: “I’ve got another one! Irene says ‘Grace has such a good sense of humour and gives great practical advice. I hope her attitude never changes! Never change Grace!'” This caused Grace to exclaim: “Stop making me emotional! I’m on The One Show, live on television!”
Celebrity MasterChef is a spinoff of the original MasterChef, where famous faces compete against one another to win in the ultimate cooking challenge.