Giorgio Locatelli new Celebrity MasterChef judge alongside Grace Dent
Giorgio Locatelli is delighted to be joining Grace Dent on the upcoming series of Celebrity MasterChef.
Giorgio Locatelli is joining Celebrity MasterChef as a judge.
The 63-year-old Michelin-starred chef-and-restaurateur will join food critic Grace Dent, 52, on the upcoming series of the BBC cookery show spin-off, which has already been filmed and will air this summer.
Announcing the news on the latest episode of Lennie and Jessie Ware's Table Manners podcast, Giorgio shared what kind of judge he was.
The author said: "I think I was a bad cop. I’m strict. Strict about cleanliness and organisation. Those little skills that you teach them slowly.
"We’re working with celebrities, which is different from working with people who wanted to be a chef, but still, you can really see them growing in what they do, and so this is the thing that interests me more on the whole experience."
Although the contestants for this year's Celebrity MasterChef are yet to be revealed, Giorgio said one in particular stood out with their dishes.
He teased: "There was somebody who really surprised me a few times in the positive. It was good fun to do, it was really good fun to be with them.
"Everyone has already proven something in their lives, and they have already achieved something. That’s why they’re there, because they are celebrities in different fields.
"The people who worked in entertainment found it so difficult to cook to the time. The sportspeople always hit the time. Their life is run by time. While the other people are all about creativity."
Giorgio is no stranger to the MasterChef kitchen, having featured as a judge on MasterChef Italia since 2018.
And he is thrilled to be fronting Celebrity MasterChef UK alongside Grace.
In a press release, Giorgio said: "Hosting Celebrity MasterChef alongside Grace is a real honour. I can’t wait for you to see what our celebrity contestants bring to the kitchen, as we are really putting their culinary skills to the test in this series."
Grace is a big fan of Giorgio's, and she is thrilled to have him on board.
The journalist said: "Giorgio Locatelli is a fabulous addition to our UK Celebrity MasterChef team.
"I'm a long-time admirer of his work and was a huge fan of Locanda Locatelli; for many years, it was one of my happy places to eat.
"I couldn't be happier to combine our shared joy, passion, and expertise for food. I also love an opportunity to serve up a heavy dose of glamour in the MasterChef kitchen, and I have a feeling Giorgio is going to give me a real run for my money.”
Giorgio joins Celebrity MasterChef following 60-year-old ex-presenter John Torode's sacking by the BBC after an allegation of him using "an extremely offensive racist term" - which John denies and has "no recollection" of making - was upheld in the Lewis Silkin report into 61-year-old former co-host Gregg Wallace's alleged inappropriate behaviour on the show.
Grace replaced Gregg after he was sacked following a series of misconduct allegations during his time on the show.
Gregg insisted he has been "cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations" made against him.
Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC, said of Giorgio's signing: "Giorgio’s culinary expertise, Michelin-starred pedigree, and serious passion for food, coupled with the dynamism that both him and Grace bring to the screen, putting the celebrities through their culinary paces, is not one to be missed.
"Viewers can expect a truly delicious series."
Celebrity MasterChef is a Shine TV (part of Banijay UK) production for BBC One and iPlayer.
Leon Wilson, CEO of Shine TV Zeppotron, commented: "I’m delighted to welcome Giorgio on board.
"He is a genuinely world-class superstar chef, and it’s a huge coup to have signed him up. With his signature charm, generosity and energy, Giorgio is perfect for Celebrity MasterChef, and he’ll be a real treat for viewers.”
Celebrity MasterChef will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this summer.
