Lisa Faulkner’s Surprising Reaction to Grace Dent Joining MasterChef as New Judge
Lisa Faulkner, wife of MasterChef judge John Torode, has shared her excitement and support following the announcement that Grace Dent will be joining the MasterChef team as a new judge. Grace, 51, will take over from Gregg Wallace in the upcoming Celebrity MasterChef series, after Wallace’s departure amidst an investigation into past misconduct allegations, which he denies.
John Torode, who has been a part of MasterChef since 2005, expressed his enthusiasm for working alongside Grace, who has been a frequent guest on the show. “I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges,” he said, reported by the Express. John also praised Grace’s expertise, calling her the perfect fit for the judging panel.
“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 make Grace the perfect person to step in alongside me as a judge for the forthcoming Celebrity MasterChef series.”
Lisa Faulkner also took to social media to congratulate Grace on her new role, sharing a heartfelt message: “Go Grace!!!!!!” Grace Dent, who has frequently appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef, is no stranger to the show. She has previously competed in MasterChef: Battle of the Critics and has fond memories of watching the show as a young girl. “I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa,” she shared, reports the Mirror.
“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.”
Grace’s appointment follows the departure of Gregg Wallace, who left amidst an ongoing investigation into historical allegations of misconduct. Wallace’s legal team has denied the accusations, stating that they are entirely false. In response to the allegations, Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef, announced an external review into the claims.
John Torode also expressed his support for the ongoing investigation, saying that the thought of anyone having a bad experience on the show was deeply upsetting. “The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear,” he said. He added that he could not make further comments while the investigation was underway.