After a tumultuous year shadowed by scandal, the BBC’s flagship culinary competition MasterChef: The Professionals is preparing for a fresh start. On September 6, 2025, the BBC confirmed that chef and television presenter Matt Tebbutt will step in as the new judge and presenter for the show’s upcoming 18th season, replacing longtime host Gregg Wallace. The move comes as the network seeks to steady the ship following a barrage of misconduct allegations that led to the removal of both Wallace and his co-host John Torode from their roles across the MasterChef franchise.
Tebbutt, 51, is no stranger to British food television. Best known for his eight-year tenure as host of BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, he has also fronted Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped and Drop Down Menu, as well as ITV1’s Save Money: Good Food. His culinary pedigree is equally robust, having trained at Prue Leith’s cookery school and worked in some of London’s most celebrated kitchens, including stints with Marco Pierre White at the Oak Room and Criterion, as well as Chez Bruce, The River Cafe, and Alastair Little. For more than a decade, he owned and ran the award-winning Foxhunter restaurant in South Wales, cementing his reputation as a chef’s chef—a quality that many believe will bring gravitas and credibility to his new role on MasterChef.
Speaking about his appointment, Tebbutt described joining the show as “an absolute honour,” adding, “It’s an absolute honour to be working alongside these two titans of the food world. Their knowledge and uncompromising attitude is now the stuff of legend and I look forward to them taking me under their wing and seeing the chefs get off to a flying start in the competition.” According to BBC News, Tebbutt’s arrival marks an “internal promotion,” a move that signals the BBC’s desire to restore confidence and continuity to the embattled franchise.
Tebbutt will join returning judges Marcus Wareing, 55, and Monica Galetti, 50, both of whom have become familiar faces to fans of the show. Wareing, known for his exacting standards, welcomed Tebbutt warmly: “His experience both on screen and in the industry speaks for itself. This show is all about showcasing and celebrating the best up-and-coming talent emerging from our country’s professional kitchens, and Matt, Monica, and I will be expecting the highest standards from our chefs this year. I can’t wait for what will be a fantastic next series.” Galetti echoed Wareing’s enthusiasm, stating, “Seeing what skills our contestants showcase and tasting their culinary creations is always a delight—Marcus and I look forward to welcoming Matt to the MasterChef studios and discovering our next champion.”
The new judging panel will also be joined by a range of guest judges during the early stages of the competition, a format tweak designed to inject fresh perspectives and excitement into the show. The exact transmission date for the new season has yet to be announced, but the BBC has confirmed that it will air later in 2025 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The need for a steadying hand became apparent after serious misconduct allegations rocked the MasterChef brand in 2024 and 2025. Gregg Wallace, who had been a fixture of the show since its inception and also fronted the Celebrity and Professionals spin-offs, was sacked in July 2025 following an independent investigation ordered by production company Banijay. The inquiry, conducted by a law firm, upheld 45 of 83 allegations against Wallace, including unwelcome physical contact, three incidents of being in a state of undress, and inappropriate sexual comments. One allegation involved the use of a severely offensive racist term directed at fellow host John Torode, who was also dismissed. Torode denied any recollection of the incident, stating that “any racist language is wholly unacceptable.”
Wallace publicly apologized in a statement, saying, “I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended.” He insisted that “none of the serious allegations against me were upheld” but acknowledged a “difference in perception” regarding unwanted touching. The BBC, balancing the interests of contestants who had already filmed the latest amateur series, chose to air the season as planned, albeit with Wallace’s and Torode’s roles reduced and replaced in later episodes by Irish chef Anna Haugh and restaurant critic Grace Dent.
The fallout from the scandal has been significant. The MasterChef brand, one of the BBC’s most lucrative and globally recognized formats, faced intense public scrutiny and even became the subject of viral mockery for its attempts to edit around the controversy. Some contestants reportedly requested to be edited out, and the show’s reputation suffered as a result. According to The Telegraph, the BBC is now contracted to air the show until 2028 and has invested in moving production to state-of-the-art studios in Birmingham—a clear sign of its commitment to revitalizing the franchise.
In the wake of his dismissal, Wallace has pivoted to a new career as a personal trainer, reportedly earning around £1,000 a week and coaching over 20 clients, charging £250 per month. He has stated that his new venture is aimed at helping people over 50 improve their health and confidence, drawing on his own experience of shedding five stone in recent years.
For his part, Tebbutt seems poised to bring a much-needed sense of stability and warmth to MasterChef: The Professionals. Known for his easy charm and self-deprecating humor—he’s described himself as “the fun one” who “doesn’t take life too seriously”—Tebbutt’s presence is expected to balance the tough critiques of Wareing and Galetti with a dose of levity. His deep roots in the culinary world and years of television experience make him a “safe pair of hands,” as several commentators have noted, and perhaps just what the show needs to regain its wholesome flavor.
As for the future of the MasterChef franchise, speculation is swirling about who will take over the main amateurs series. Names like Tom Kerridge, Anna Haugh, Andi Oliver, Jim Famurewa, Angela Hartnett, and even Nigella Lawson have been floated as potential candidates. For now, though, all eyes are on Tebbutt, Wareing, and Galetti as they prepare to welcome a new cohort of professional chefs to the competition—and, perhaps, to help the BBC’s battered culinary flagship chart a course back to calmer waters.
With the 18th season set to debut later this year, viewers and industry insiders alike are watching closely to see if Tebbutt’s appointment will mark a true turning point for MasterChef: The Professionals. After a year of upheaval, the show’s new era is about to begin—and for fans, that’s a reason to tune in with renewed anticipation.
