Giorgio Locatelli Joins Celebrity MasterChef as New Judge
Giorgio Locatelli has been confirmed as the new judge on Celebrity MasterChef, succeeding John Torode who was dismissed by the BBC last year.
Locatelli, a chef and restaurateur currently featured on the Italian version of the amateur cooking competition, will appear alongside Grace Dent in the upcoming UK celebrity series, which has already completed filming.
"Joining the show was a real honour," Locatelli said. "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."
Dent expressed her enthusiasm about Locatelli's addition, calling him a "long-time admirer" and a "fabulous addition to our UK Celebrity MasterChef team."
"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," she joked.
Locatelli's appointment follows the BBC's decision to remove Torode after an allegation of using a racist term, which Torode has denied recalling.
A Strict Judge on the New Series
Reflecting on his role during filming, Locatelli described himself on the Table Manners podcast as a "bad cop," emphasizing his strictness regarding cleanliness and organisation.
"I think I was a bad cop. I'm strict. Strict about cleanliness and organisation. Those little skills that you teach them slowly," he said.
The identities of the contestants for the new series have not yet been disclosed, but Locatelli noted that one celebrity particularly impressed him with the quality of their dishes.
"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," he told podcast hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware.
Locatelli also observed differences in how contestants from various backgrounds managed the cooking challenges.
"The people who worked in entertainment found it so difficult to cook to the time," he reflected. "The sportspeople always hit the time. Their life is run by time, while the other people are all about creativity."
The spin-off series features celebrities undertaking cooking challenges, with judges evaluating their culinary abilities until one winner claims the Celebrity MasterChef trophy.
Locatelli’s Culinary Background
Locatelli is a Michelin-starred chef who began his career at the Savoy before founding several restaurants, including Olivo, Zafferano, Locanda Locatelli, and Locatelli at the National Gallery.
Background on John Torode’s Departure
John Torode was dismissed from the BBC following an allegation that he used "an extremely offensive racist term," a claim upheld by an independent investigation conducted by the law firm Lewis Silkin.
Torode's departure came after co-presenter Gregg Wallace was also removed from the network following 45 upheld allegations of misconduct.
At the time of his exit, Wallace expressed regret, stating he was "deeply sorry for any distress" caused and that he "never set out to harm or humiliate."
Grace Dent replaced Wallace and had previously appeared alongside Torode on the last series of Celebrity MasterChef.
Torode responded to the allegations by stating:
"I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of. The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong."
Following Torode's departure, Anna Haugh was appointed as the new judge on the main amateur MasterChef series.
