MasterChef: The Professionals Anna Haugh (Image: BBC/Shine TV)
Irish chef Anna Haugh is favourite among BBC bosses to replace disgraced presenter Gregg Wallace on MasterChef.
The chef, restauranteur and TV personality has stepped in in the past as a guest judge and is well liked by producers, a source close to the show has revealed.
The source said: “Anna is the favourite to replace Gregg. She’s stepped in in recent weeks and done really well.“The producers love her and she’s been a big hit with viewers in the past. As a chef she has the knowledge and is a natural presenter.“Anna is also squeaky clean which is what they need after all the chaos and mess of the last few weeks.”
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Other possible contenders in the running include James Martin, Angela Hartnett, Andi Oliver, Grace Dent, and Lisa Faulkner who is married to Masterchef presenter John Torode.
Disgraced presenter Gregg Wallace is reported to have accepted his TV career is over after a string of complaints about his inappropriate behaviour including making sexual comments from women who have appeared on MasterChef including Kirstie Allsopp, Penny Lancaster and Mel Sykes.
He has denied the allegations but it has been reported that he has accepted his career is mostly likely over as the probe into his behaviour widens.Anna, 44, has appeared as a guest judge on Gordon Ramsey’s US show Hell’s Kitchen and was a chef on ’s Ready Steady Cook presented by Rylan Clark-Neal.
She co-presented two seasons of ’s Royal Recipes with Michael Buerk, has appeared as a guest judge on Masterchef with John Torode and Gregg Wallace and as a guest on Sunday Brunch with Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy.She regularly appears on Saturday Kitchen and is a resident chef on Morning Live with Kym Marsh and Gethin Jones.