How Grace Dent overcame family tragedy, health battle and the I’m a Celebrity mystery who lands the MasterChef job

FOOD critic Grace Dent is set to replace Gregg Wallace as a judge on MasterChef after the BBC fired Wallace amid allegations of misconduct.

The TV star, known for his harsh criticism and appearances on I’m a Celebrity, will join John Torode for the 20th series of the hit cooking show.

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Gregg, 60, was fired following allegations of inappropriate behavior spanning 17 years, which he denies.

When news of her casting was announced, Grace said: “I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was little, sitting with my dad on the sofa.

“My whole family watches it. It’s all about discovering and championing talent and to have ended up in this position is more than a dream for me.

“I’m so excited I can’t eat, which is very detrimental for a food critic.

“I feel very lucky to be filling in on the next Celebrity MasterChef. I can’t wait to meet the new celebrity faces for 2025.”

Dad’s dementia

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In a cruel twist, Grace’s father, George, tragically died before seeing his daughter become a mainstay on her favorite show.

She announced her death in 2022 after a long battle with dementia. Grace had lost her mother to cancer the year before.

The food critic experienced many trials in life before taking part in the 2023 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

And she attributed her personal misfortunes to helping her brave the jungle spectacle.

Before flying to Australia for the ITV hit, Grace said: “I’ve been through a really tough time over the last four or five years.

“My father suffered from dementia, I was taking care of him and I lost him.

“Mom had cancer and I lost her. I think it made me very strong and resilient.

Mom’s heartbreaking battle with cancer

Reflecting on the death of her mother, Grace shared during White Wine Question Time with Kate Thornton: “We were all together as a family up until the point where she passed away.

“And I just think if I look back on my life, I’ll never regret it.”

Despite the immense sadness, Grace found a glimmer of hope in the way this loss brought her family closer.

She said: “I feel very different since then. In the book, I talk a lot about coming back and being with my father, when he started showing really big signs of Alzheimer’s, and being there.

“But that part of my life, which wasn’t in the book at all, was about going back and being with my brothers, being with my sister-in-law, and just a little bit of all that, coming together.

“And that my mother finally leaves. She left a huge hole.

Disordered eating

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Grace previously spoke about her fierce battle with eating disorders in the years before her time on I’m A Celebrity.

She said her food-related issues began as a child before counting calories as a teenager.

An 800-calorie-a-day diet often left her fainting and fainting.

She said: “At that age, I and most of my friends became masters at counting calories. Our minds sucked in and stored for life every approximate kcal per hundred-gram serving.”

Writing about her teenage attitude towards food in her book, she continued: “The dry Ryvitas got stuck in my throat and then I couldn’t sleep at night as my stomach growled while I dreamed of the morning where I could have three tablespoons of Special K with skim milk.

“Yeah, I knew 800 calories a day was too low and might make me feel bad, but damn, by Saturday I could wear a catsuit to the Hacienda and dance to Todd Terry and I’d have it again looked amazing for a bit.”

Stop, I’m a celebrity

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Grace left I’m A Celebrity shortly after being voted to take part in a food trial.

She entered the Australian jungle just over a week before, alongside campmates Nigel Farage, Jamie Lynn Spears and Marvin Humes.

In a statement, ITV said: “Sadly, Grace Dent has left the show for medical reasons.

“She has been a great campmate and will be missed by her fellow celebrities and viewers alike.”

She was seen on camera in a previous episode saying, “I just want to go home.” »

However, after emerging from the jungle, she said: “Leaving my campmates and the girls will be the biggest regret of my life.” »

New beginning

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MasterChef’s John Torode welcomed his new co-host with a warm message, saying: “Grace’s expertise and passion for food makes her the perfect addition to the show.”

The BBC also highlighted his extensive experience in the culinary world.

Gregg’s departure comes amid an investigation into allegations of misconduct, including inappropriate comments toward colleagues.

Although he denied the claims, Wallace acknowledged that his television career was probably over.

A source also told The Sun that John had “repeatedly” raised concerns about Gregg’s behavior.

A source said: “John is not stupid – of course he was aware of some of Gregg’s less savory behaviour. He neither tolerated it nor engaged in it.

“He doesn’t have a macho sense of humor and when he made that comment about them not being friends in real life, he knew what he was doing.”

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