December 6th 2024.
After a long and successful 20-year run, popular TV presenter Gregg Wallace has announced that he will be stepping down as a judge on the hit cooking show MasterChef. This news has left fans wondering who will take his place on the show. While the next season has already been filmed, there is already speculation on who will replace Wallace if he does not return.
According to bookies, the favourite to replace him is none other than celebrity chef James Martin. Martin, who has previously hosted Saturday Kitchen, has been a prominent figure in the cooking world for many years. He has also hosted a variety of other cooking shows on ITV.
Wallace and his co-host John Torode have been a dynamic duo on MasterChef since its launch in 2004. However, for two seasons before that, Wallace hosted the show with Antony Worrall Thompson. It wasn't until three years later that Martin took over hosting duties and continued to do so for the next decade. In recent years, he has been hosting Saturday Morning with James Martin on ITV.
With odds of 5/2, Martin is currently the favourite to take over Wallace's role on the BBC's flagship cooking programme. Other contenders include John's wife Lisa Faulkner, Nigella Lawson, and Gino D'Acampo. Betfred spokesperson Kayley Cornelius stated, "At the moment, TV chef James Martin is the bookies' favourite to take over as the new face of the iconic series."
Banijay UK, the producers of MasterChef, have stated that Wallace is cooperating with an external review after allegations of misconduct against him were made by 13 people who have worked with him over the years. However, his lawyers have denied these allegations. Meanwhile, John has released a statement saying he will not comment on the matter while the investigation is ongoing. He expressed his love for the show and his concern for the contestants' experiences.
Despite their professional relationship, John previously stated that he and Wallace are not close friends. The BBC and representatives for James Martin have been contacted for comment. In the meantime, fans can catch up on past episodes of MasterChef streaming on BBC iPlayer. Do you have a celebrity story or pictures to share? Contact The Agency entertainment team by emailing us, calling, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We would love to hear from you.
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