Irish chef Anna Haugh and food critic Grace Dent announced as new MasterChef hosts
Entertainment

Irish chef Anna Haugh and food critic Grace Dent announced as new MasterChef hosts

IRISH chef Anna Haugh has been announced as one of the new hosts of the next series of MasterChef.

The Dubliner, who is the owner and chef patron of Myrtle restaurant in London’s Chelsa, is a familiar face on the show, having featured as a guest judge across a numer of series.

She will co-host the upcoming 22nd amateur series of the cooking show with journalist and critic Grace Dent who has also been a regular MasterChef judge over the past ten years.

Anna Haugh and Grace Dent ahve been confirmed as the new MasterChef hosts (Pic: BBC)

“I’m delighted to be back on MasterChef and judging alongside the wonderful Grace Dent, whose writing and wit I’ve admired for years,” Haugh said as the BBC confirmed their new hosts.

“MasterChef has long inspired and resonated with cooks in home kitchens and of course in my industry,” she added.

“I can’t wait to get into the studio for what will be a great competition."

Dent is equally excited about her new role.

"I’m over the moon to be coming back to the MasterChef kitchen and unearthing what culinary skills people have been cooking up behind closed doors,” she said.

“It’s a joy to be working with Anna, who brings all her incredible experience to the table,” she added.

“I am in for such a treat with this series, I can’t wait to get started."

The pair replace former hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode who were sacked after allegations were made against them.

Haugh was previously a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2022 and will on our screens as a judge in the final week of this year’s MasterChef, which is currently airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Dent has been a regular guest critic on MasterChef for over a decade, and competed in MasterChef: Battle of the Critics in 2023.

She is also a judge in the 2025 series of Celebrity MasterChef.

“A big welcome to Grace and Anna to the MasterChef judging team,” MasterChef Executive Editor, David Ambler, said this week.

“Both are enormously respected in the hospitality industry and we can’t wait for them to uncover some more great cooking talent - from home kitchens across the country.”