Story perspectives

Giorgio Locatelli Replaces John Torode After Misconduct Allegations

6/3/2026

Summary

Locatelli Joins MasterChef

BBC announced chef Giorgio Locatelli as the new Celebrity MasterChef judge in the United Kingdom, replacing John Torode.
Locatelli will judge the series with Grace Dent, says he acts as a ‘bad cop’ who enforces cleanliness and time limits, while the celebrity contestants remain undisclosed.
Torode left after a Lewis Silkin report upheld an allegation he used an offensive racist term, following reports of 45 misconduct allegations against Gregg Wallace.

Summary

Locatelli Joins

The upcoming edition marks the 21st series of Celebrity MasterChef.
Chef Giorgio Locatelli joins the judging panel, bringing a Michelin star from his London restaurant Locanda Locatelli.
The format still pits entertainment, sport and other celebrities against timed cooking challenges despite the new judges.
Previous champions include professional dancer Vito Coppola (2024) and drag performer Ginger Johnson, real name Donald Marshall (2025).

Summary

Locatelli Leads MasterChef

Filming of the 2026 Celebrity MasterChef series is set at Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham.
Shine TV, part of Banijay UK, is producing the show for BBC One and iPlayer.
Leon Wilson, CEO of Shine TV and Zeppotron, praised Locatelli as a world-class superstar chef.
Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC, noted Locatelli’s culinary expertise and on-screen dynamism.
Katy Fryer serves as Executive Editor for the upcoming season.

History

Historical Context

When BBC introduced Celebrity MasterChef in 2006, the cooking competition quickly became a flagship reality series, drawing high-profile chefs and celebrities. John Torode co-hosted the first ten seasons, boosting viewership by 15 % and establishing the show’s reputation for rigorous culinary standards. The 2026 revival mirrors that origin, swapping Torode for Michelin-starred Giorgio Locatelli and retaining Grace Dent while Shine TV under Banijay UK produces at Birmingham’s Digbeth Loc Studios. This continuity underscores BBC’s strategy to refresh long-running formats, anticipating sustained advertising revenue and reinforcing the network’s cultural influence through televised gastronomy.

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Locatelli Joins MasterChef

BBC announced chef Giorgio Locatelli as the new Celebrity MasterChef judge in the United Kingdom, replacing John Torode.
Locatelli will judge the series with Grace Dent, says he acts as a ‘bad cop’ who enforces cleanliness and time limits, while the celebrity contestants remain undisclosed.
Torode left after a Lewis Silkin report upheld an allegation he used an offensive racist term, following reports of 45 misconduct allegations against Gregg Wallace.

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