Giorgio Locatelli Named New Celebrity MasterChef Judge Replacing John Torode

Giorgio Locatelli has been announced as the new judge on Celebrity MasterChef. He replaces John Torode, who was sacked by the BBC last year after an allegation of using an extremely offensive racist term. Locatelli, a Michelin-star chef, will appear alongside Grace Dent on the next UK series, which has already been filmed.

He said joining the show was a real honour. "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," Locatelli said. Grace Dent said she was a long-time admirer of Locatelli's work.

She described him as a fabulous addition to the 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," Dent said. Locatelli told the Table Manners podcast that he was strict during filming.

"I think I was a bad cop. I'm strict. Strict about cleanliness and organisation," he said. He noted that one contestant stood out for the quality of their dishes. "There was somebody who really surprised me a few times in the positive," Locatelli said.

Locatelli observed differences in how contestants managed time. "The people who worked in entertainment found it so difficult to cook to the time. The sportspeople always hit the time," he said. Torode appeared on MasterChef for two decades.

The allegation against him was upheld in an independent report by law firm Lewis Silkin. Torode said he has no recollection of the incident. "The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong," he said.

Locatelli worked at the Savoy early in his career. He later launched restaurants including Olivo, Zafferano, Locanda Locatelli and Locatelli at the National Gallery. Gregg Wallace was also sacked from the show after 45 allegations of misconduct were upheld.

Torode was replaced on the main amateur series of MasterChef by Anna Haugh.