Grace Dent admitted that she is feeling nervous as she prepares to take on her ‘biggest and most important’ challenge yet as the new host of MasterChef.
The food critic, 51, will join Irish chef Anna Haugh, 44, on the BBC cooking show, as they step in to replace former hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Gregg was sacked following a series of misconduct allegations relating to his time on the series. Meanwhile John lost his job after two decades over allegations he used ‘racist language in 2018’, something he claims he has ‘no recollection’ of.
Grace, who is currently working with MONOPOLY GO! on Dough Fest, revealed how nerves have helped ‘power her out of bed’ as filming for the new series gets underway.
Speaking to Daily Mail, she said: ‘You have to have a bit of nerves to power you out of bed. This is the biggest, most important, iconic cooking show on television.
‘I have to be nervous, but I’m more full of joy and happiness because when I walk into that studio, we’ve got dozens and dozens and dozens of passionate home cooks who’ve put their life on hold to everything.’
Grace Dent admitted that she is feeling nervous as she prepares to take on her ‘biggest and most important’ challenge yet as the new host of MasterChef
She added: ‘They’ve put their children, the jobs, everything are old to come and cook for me. So, I am nervous sometimes, but I’m also really proud. There’s a responsibility here.
‘Being on people’s sofas 8:30 at night on BBC One, giving them a moment where they can sit and watch the story arcs, watch the characters, watch this great food. To me, it’s the best job in the world. And I’m so proud.’
Discussing what she would like to see on the series, Grace admitted: ‘I have a sweet tooth. I spend my life getting overexcited about people introducing chocolate to more chocolate.
‘I love it when people experiment with crazy desserts, crazy puddings. I think people hold back with dessert on MasterChef, it’s very tempting to do panna cotta, syllabub, creme brûle.
‘Anything that’s kind of a set custard, this is what people do. So, if you want to charm me, you’re really going to have to get your pastry rolling pin out.’
Grace has spent decades as a celebrated food critic and presenter, hosting her own podcast, Comfort Eating, which she described as a ‘complete roller coaster.’
‘Basically, someone knocks on the front door and I open it, it could be CMAT or Stephen Fry or James Norton and they come into my house.
‘I asked for Liam Gallagher. I asked for Tom Hardy. These are people that are quite difficult to get hold of. Daniel Craig, I’m always interested in people that you don’t hear speak about food very much.’
The food critic, 51, will join Irish chef Anna Haugh, 44, on the BBC cooking show, as they step in to replace former hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode (Gregg and John pictured last year)
Grace continued: ‘Some celebrities talk about food all the time. Some of you’ve never seen them put an actual flake of food in their mouth in your life. What does Liam Gallagher eat? Nobody knows. He’s my dream guest, I’m coming for Liam.’
Elsewhere, Grace is involved with Monopoly GO’s Dough Fest at the Truman Brewery in east London where she has put her sweet tooth to good use.
‘It is it’s a chance to come down and sample all kinds of weird and wonderful foods,’ she explained.
‘The donut that I’ve worked on with Bread Ahead is double chocolate, double mango lassie, and chilli jam. Double the amount of chocolate and mango lassi, one of my favourite tastes in the entire world.’
‘If you love out there outlandish food, and you love Monopoly Go!, then that’s where you need to go to.
‘MasterChef’s going to take up almost all of my time. But, I’m always reviewing restaurants… if I’m not eating, I’m eating.’
When she was announced for the new role, Grace shared: ‘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.
Grace, who is currently working with MONOPOLY GO! on Dough Fest, revealed how nerves have helped ‘power her out of bed’ as filming begins (pictured with Anna)
‘It’s a joy to be working with Anna, who brings all her incredible experience to the table. I am in for such a treat with this series, I can’t wait to get started.’
Anna, 44, added: ‘I’m delighted to be back on MasterChef and judging alongside the wonderful Grace Dent, whose writing and wit I’ve admired for years.
‘MasterChef has long inspired and resonated with cooks in home kitchens and of course in my industry.
‘I can’t wait to get into the studio for what will be a great competition.’
The current series of MasterChef, which features John and Gregg, lost nearly one million viewers as it aired last month.
MONOPOLY GO! is bringing its Culinary Season to life with Dough Fest – its first real-world festival serving limited-edition doughnuts, ice cream, and pizzas inspired by the game.
Can’t make it? Join TRADE FEST in-game, where trading limits are being doubled to celebrate.
