Food critic Grace Dent has been confirmed as Gregg Wallace's replacement for the 2025 edition of Celebrity MasterChef.
Wallace was forced to step down as co-host of the MasterChef franchise last month after a string of misconduct allegations were made against him - all claims which he has denied.
The regular edition for 2025 has already been filmed, in which Wallace starred alongside John Torode, although the BBC has yet to decide how to air that series, with the possibility that Wallace could be edited out completely.
Filming on the new celeb series, meanwhile, is due to take place in the new year and will see Dent - a guest judge on the programme for more than a decade - step up alongside Torode.
"I've been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa," she said. "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."
Torode added: "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.
"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, makes Grace the perfect person to step in alongside me as judge for the forthcoming Celebrity MasterChef series."
Permanent hosts for other MasterChef shows, including MasterChef: The Professionals, will be decided in early 2025.
Neil Wilkes
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