Grace Dent Steps Into the Spotlight as the New Celebrity MasterChef Host

Grace Dent is stepping confidently into a brand-new spotlight this year, taking on the role of host and judge for Celebrity MasterChef. With nearly 30 years of authority in food writing and broadcasting, Dent’s sharp palate and even sharper wit are set to add a bold new energy to the long-running BBC series (BBC; Pressparty).

Viewers familiar with her fearless critiques know she isn’t one to sugar-coat her opinions, and many expect her presence to fundamentally shift the tone of the show.

Who Is Grace Dent?

Grace Georgina Dent is a multi-hyphenate talent: journalist, broadcaster, restaurant critic, novelist, memoirist, and podcast host. Born on October 3, 1973, she first rose to prominence through her work at The Guardian, where her restaurant reviews became a staple of British food journalism (The Guardian).

She has also written for The Independent, Evening Standard, Cosmopolitan, and Marie Claire, and she hosts the award-winning Comfort Eating podcast, where celebrities share emotional and nostalgic connections to food (BBC Sounds).

As a TV personality, Dent is best known for her long-standing appearances on MasterChef, plus roles on The Great British Menu, Have I Got News For You, Pointless Celebrities, and Richard Osman’s House of Games (Entertainment Daily).

Why Her MasterChef Appointment Matters

Grace Dent officially replaces Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef, becoming a central judge alongside John Torode. According to Sky News, Wallace stepped down following internal controversy, creating space for Dent’s arrival (Sky News).

Speaking to Radio Times, Grace said she was “over the moon” to be chosen, adding that she has watched the show “religiously since 1990” and feels honoured to carry the legacy forward (Radio Times). Production sources told Prolific North that Dent brings “expertise, a fearless sense of humour, and decades of culinary knowledge.”

John Torode also praised her appointment, calling her “one of the most insightful food critics in Britain,” someone who can challenge contestants but also encourage them (Glamour UK).

Is Grace Dent Vegan?

Grace describes herself as “mainly vegan” or “flexitarian.” She has spoken openly about her preference for plant-forward eating, citing both ethical and health reasons (The Guardian). During her stint on I’m A Celebrity, ITV producers adapted her trial requirements so she did not consume any animal products, opting instead for physical challenges.

Where Does She Live?

Grace was born in Carlisle, later relocating to London for her first magazine job. She has lived in Leyton for 17 years. Though she and her fiancé Charles keep separate homes, she has joked that he “spends most of his time eating her food” at her house (The Standard).

Despite her busy London career, she frequently travels back to Keswick to visit family.

Her Relationship with Ainsley Harriott

Dent co-hosted Best of Britain By The Sea with celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott, sparking widespread rumours about a possible romance. However, no credible evidence supports the claim, and Dent has repeatedly framed Harriott as a mentor and “professional hero” (Channel 4).

Their on-screen chemistry, she said, comes from Harriott’s warmth, humour, and decades of TV experience.

Tom Parker Bowles and the Food Critic Circle

Grace is close friends with food critic Tom Parker Bowles. They collaborated on London Food Month in 2017 and later worked together on MasterChef: The Professionals. Both are known for being brutally honest in their critiques, but they maintain a deep respect for one another (Mail on Sunday).

The pair have also taken part in charity cooking events, switching roles from critic to chef for a good cause.

Who Is Grace Dent’s Partner, Charles?

Grace became engaged to her partner, Charles, in 2021. She tends to keep her private life out of the spotlight, but she shared on Kate Thornton’s podcast that they met online after following each other on Instagram for years.

Dent described Charles as “absolutely gorgeous” and admitted she once thought she would “never pull someone like him,” feeling lucky every day (White Wine Question Time podcast).

Her First Marriage

Dent has referenced a previous marriage, though she has never publicly named her ex-husband. They married in Las Vegas, and she still owns — and occasionally wears — her turquoise wedding dress. She once joked that her ex might someday see her on TV wearing it and think, “Hang on, that looks familiar!” (The Guardian).

Does Grace Dent Have Children?

Grace has spoken openly about not wanting children, saying in The Guardian that although she enjoys being around kids, she “never truly wanted one.” She has called this an opinion that still feels “radical” for women to express publicly.

Grace Dent as an Author

She has published several successful children’s novels — including the Diary of a Chav and Diary of a Snob series — and two memoirs, Hungry and Comfort Eating, both praised for their humour and emotional honesty (Waterstones; The Guardian).

Loss of Her Parents

Dent has been candid about the grief of losing both her parents. Her father battled dementia before passing away, and her mother died from cancer in 2021. Grace wrote poignantly about these experiences in a widely shared Guardian essay that explored love, fear, and the heartbreak of caring for a parent losing their memory.

Grace Dent on I’m A Celebrity

Her 2023 appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! shocked some fans because she had previously criticised the show as “a puerile venture into starvation and televised constipation.” Yet she joined as a “guilty pleasure,” hoping for personal growth (The Guardian).

She ultimately left after 11 days due to medical reasons. Following her departure, she released a statement thanking fans and reflecting on how the experience made her stronger.

What’s Next for Grace Dent?

Now firmly seated in her MasterChef role, Dent says she is ready to bring a fresh chapter to the competition — one where precision, honesty, and big flavours reign supreme. As she puts it: “I’ve lived and breathed this show forever, and now I’m front and centre. I couldn’t be happier” (Pressparty).