Gregg Wallace has exited MasterChef following allegations of inappropriate behaviour (Image: BBC)
will be taking over ‘s judging role after he stepped back from the show following allegations of inappropriate, over-sexualised behaviour behind the scenes.
Though he eventually apologised for it, his initial reaction video claiming the complaints had been made by “middle class women of a certain age” caused fury. Now many fans are delighted, seeing it as fitting revenge that a “middle class woman of a certain age” happens to be his replacement – but the celebratory mood was mixed with debate.
This morning, guest Lebby Eyres, the former editor of New magazine, stated that Grace was “absolutely the right person for the job” and someone who could “save the show” – but she also introduced a “caveat” that had some shocked. “Maybe the little caveat with Grace is that she is a little bit spikier than Gregg perhaps – Gregg was a warm character on screen,” she stated.
“When the contestants are there, they’re nervous, they’re highly stressed – they do need a presenter that’s quite warm as well as critical at the same time.” Lebby added: “I think we know that Grace is not going to hold back on what she says about their dishes that they’ve cooked for her – and you do need that little bit of warmth in there.”
GB News presenters Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello looked taken aback as they listened in silence. Lebby continued by asking whether the viewers in turn would lack warmth towards her.
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Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello discussed Grace Dent with a special guest on GB News (Image: GB NEWS)
“I think the only caveat other than that is when she went on , she didn’t have a great time and she left after nine days, so will viewers warm to her?” she quizzed.
Lebby did conclude that Grace, a food journalist by profession, who had made “many appearances on MasterChef” prior to stepping into Gregg’s shoes, would be “enough to save the show” after the scandal.
However, there were fans who took to to comment about “women defending misogynistic behaviour”, after Lebby described accusation-hit Gregg as “warm” and Grace as “spiky”.
Some argued that Grace was “a force to be reckoned with” and that if there was a debate, they considered themselves “team Grace all the way”.
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Grace Dent will be replacing Gregg Wallace on MasterChef (Image: Getty)
Someone defended Gregg Wallace over his “inappropriate jokes”, arguing: “The whole cancel culture of destroying peoples career without proving any guilt is getting ridiculous… #gracedent is not right for #MasterChef off my record list.”
However, another fan wrote: “Just catching up on the news that #GraceDent is replacing #GreggWallace on @MasterChefUK. Well played (for once) the @BBCOne replacing him with a ‘middle class woman of a certain age’.”
A News investigation led to the decision to part ways with Gregg after 13 people made allegations of inappropriate behaviour, as well as “creepy” texts, something whiich he has strongly denied.
His departure spells an end to an almost 20 year career on MasterChef, after first joining the show to co-star with back in 2005.