Speculation has erupted about who will front MasterChef after John Torode was sensationally dropped by the BBC following the upholding of an allegation that he had used an “extremely offensive racist term” during his time on the show in 2018.
The celebrity chef said he had not been informed about his sacking from the BBC or the cookery show’s production company Banijay UK, and instead learnt the news while reading media reports.
It comes shortly after his co-host Gregg Wallace was also axed after an investigation upheld 45 allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him including one of unwelcome physical contact. Wallace said he was “deeply sorry” in response to the report.
Questions remain about who will replace the presenters, who have both hosted the show together since it was revamped in 2005. There is also uncertainty about the future of a series recorded prior to the scandal being made public. While Grace Dent was confirmed as Wallace’s replacement on Celebrity MasterCheflast year, the BBC has not confirmed the pair’s replacement on the main show, MasterChef.
Below we’ve compiled a list of the frontrunners – and the odds being offered.
The Independent has contacted the BBC and Banijay for comment.
Tom Kerridge – 11/8
A strong favourite, as noted by gambling.com, is this English chef, who runs his own pub, the Hand and Flowers, in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. He has appeared on MasterChef, Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen. Kerridge has presented BBC programmes How to Lose Weight for Good, Top of the Shop, Bake Off: Crème de la Crème and currently presents Food and Drink on BBC Two.
Grace Dent – 15/8
After replacing Wallace on the Celebrity version of the show, many fans have called for the host to take over from him on MasterChef, too. Dent regularly appears as a critic on MasterChef and is a favourite with fans for her straight-shooting comments. Last year, she switched roles and served as a contestant on the show’s spin-off, MasterChef: The Battle of the Critics.
Chris Stark – 6/4
Perhaps shooting broadcaster Stark up the list is the fact he co-hosts weekly pub quiz Proper Tasty alongside strong favourite Kerridge – so the BBC will have an eye on that readymade partnership. Stark, who is co-host of Capital Breakfast alongside Jordan North and Sian Welby, could bring some light reprieve to the otherwise fairly serious show.
Big Zuu – 13/8
Rapper and TV personality has set himself apart as a name in the world of cusine thanks to hit show Big Zuu’s Big Eats, which sees him discuss memorable and favourite foods with a new celebroty each episode. Considering Wallace and Torode have presented the show since 2005, the BBC will undoubtedlky be hoping to open the format to a younger generation; Big Zuu, 29, could be the one to do that.
Andi Oliver – 5/2
According to bookies at whataretheodds.co.uk, Great British Menu host Oliver is the favourite to take over from the hosts. She would make history as the first ever Black woman to present the programme. She’s also a former member of the band Rip Rig + Panic and hosts the podcast Stirring it Up with her daughter Miquita Oliver.
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Poppy O’Toole 4/1
Michelin-trained chef O’Toole has self-titled herself as the “Potato Queen” online and could bring in a much younger audience were the BBC looking to overhaul the show.
Others in the running inclue Gordon Ramsay’s protegee Angela Hartnett, Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain (which may be unlikely after she hit out at the corporation over their decision to not recommission her show), BBC chef James Martin, fan-favourite Nigella Lawson, MasterChef: The Professionals judge Marcus Wareing, and Celebrity MasterChef winner and wife of Torode, Lisa Faulkner. Reddit users have also suggested MasterChef: The Professionals judge Monica Galetti, Irish chef and TV personality Anna Haugh and critics including Jay Rayner.
