- Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk
MasterChef: The Professionals fans have heaped praise on new judge Matt Tebbutt, as the chef made his debut on the show on Tuesday night, after replacing Gregg Wallace.
The Saturday Kitchen star, 52, appeared on the first episode of the culinary contest’s 18th season alongside fellow chefs and judges, Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti.
The trio will also be joined by a range of guest judges on the programme who will appear in the first stage of the competition.
Kicking off the premiere, Marcus introduced Matt to the show, saying: ‘Good to see you both, new competition, new kitchen and we have a new judge, welcome Matt!’
The TV presenter replied: ‘Thank you very much, great to be here, great to be a part of the MasterChef family’, while Marcus warned: ‘Strap yourself in Matt, this is going to be a journey.’
And viewers at home were quick to commend Matt’s first appearance on the programme, taking to social media to brand him ‘excellent’ and ‘a great addition to the kitchen’.
MasterChef: The Professionals fans have heaped praise on new judge Matt Tebbutt, as the chef made his debut on the show on Tuesday night alongside Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti (pictured)
The Saturday Kitchen star, 52, appeared on the first episode of the culinary contest’s 18th season after replacing Gregg Wallace (pictured in 2024)
They raved: ‘Glad MasterChef The Professionals is back. Matt seems to fit in as the new judge’; ‘Matt Tebbut is fab’.
‘Found Matt Tebbutt to be a breath of fresh air’; ‘How brilliant to see the excellent Matt Tebbutt instead of having to endure the vile shouty sleazy Eggggggggg’.
‘I think Matt Tebbutt will fit in nicely, he’s popular with viewers and he knows his craft.’; ‘@matt_tebbutt is a great addition to the kitchen’.
‘Aw yay Matt, I like him and unlike Gregg the t**t he’s actually talented’; ‘Loving new format and judge’.
‘Loving the new MasterChef lineup!! It’s been needing a revamp for years!’; ‘like matt tbf think he’ll be good for this show’.
‘Just binge watched the entire weeks #mastercheftheprofessionals in one sitting. Just absolutely awesome and loved Matt on the show.’
However, while Matt’s performance was commended by fans, several viewers complained that having three judges on the show was overkill, declaring: ‘Too many judges spoil the MasterChef’.
They took to X to write: ‘Do they have three judges on this series of #masterchef so they have a spare ? Well, you never know…’
How do you think new judges like Matt Tebbutt can change the culture and reputation of MasterChef?
And viewers at home were quick to commend Matt’s first appearance on the programme, taking to social media to brand him ‘excellent’ and ‘a great addition to the kitchen’
However, while Matt’s performance was commended by fans, several viewers complained that having three judges on the show was overkill, declaring: ‘Too many judges spoil the MasterChef’
‘Enjoying the new #mastercheftheprofessionals but not really sure what Matt Tebbutt is bringing to the party’.
‘Why do they have three judges, and why are we watching the other guy giving a running commentary whilst he watches it in another room.’
‘You know the saying “too many cooks spoil the broth”, that’s what’s going on with #Masterchef tonight. The format didn’t need to change.’
Speaking about his experience filming the series ahead of the premiere, Matt gushed: ‘It’s been a joy. I’ve loved every minute and these two next to me have been so supportive.
‘I’ve become so invested in the chefs and their progress and how they’ve changed throughout the series.’
He continued: ‘The thing that stood out for me was just how invested these chefs are and how much work goes into it for them outside of filming.
‘Their commitment was clear and it was also clear to see how much they changed from week one to week seven – the progression was, was enormous.
‘You could easily think of MasterChef that, yes, it’s just a TV show. But for these chefs, it’s so much more than that. There’s a lot at stake. And they take it very, very seriously. And it’s really good to see!’
Matt joined the show after Gregg, 60, was sacked following a series of misconduct allegations relating to his time on the amateur series, MasterChef (Matt pictured on Saturday Kitchen)
He issued an apology saying he was ‘deeply sorry for any distress caused’ and that he ‘never set out to harm or humiliate’ in the wake of an investigation which upheld 45 out of 83 allegations against him. In total, 41 people complained
Matt joined the show after Gregg, 60, was sacked following a series of misconduct allegations relating to his time on the amateur series, MasterChef.
He issued an apology saying he was ‘deeply sorry for any distress caused’ and that he ‘never set out to harm or humiliate’ in the wake of an investigation which upheld 45 out of 83 allegations against him. In total, 41 people complained.
The review concluded that the ‘majority of the substantiated allegations against Gregg related to inappropriate sexual language and humour’.
It added that ‘a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated’, with ‘one incident of unwelcome physical contact’ also substantiated.
The most recent series of MasterChef: The Professionals, which featured Gregg, continued to air last year amid the allegations against him.
However, two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials were pulled from the BBC’s schedule in December 2024.
Meanwhile, his MasterChef co-host John Torode was also sacked after two decades on the series over allegations that he used the N-word.
The BBC said the host’s contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an ‘extremely offensive racist term’ during drinks after filming the show.
Meanwhile, his MasterChef co-host John Torode was also sacked after two decades on the series over allegations that he used the N-word (seen in 2024)
The complaint against John was revealed in the report into co-presenter Gregg’s inappropriate behaviour.
John identified himself as an unnamed person in the report who was accused of using ‘racist language’.
However, the presenter said ‘he had absolutely no recollection’ of the incident and did ‘not believe that it happened’.
A witness told investigators he had apologised immediately, ‘was mortified’ and ‘didn’t use the term as a slur’ in 2018.
However, in a statement, the BBC said: ‘This allegation – which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace – was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin.
‘The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously.
‘We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.’
Gregg and John will be replaced as the presenters of the regular MasterChef by Grace Dent and Anna Haugh.