Matt Tebbutt will join Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti as a judge on the next series of MasterChef: The Professionals, the BBC confirmed on Thursday.
Tebbutt, the presenter of Saturday Kitchen and a chef and television presenter, replaces Gregg Wallace, who was dismissed in July after an independent inquiry upheld multiple allegations about his conduct on the show. Tebbutt said it was "an absolute honour" to be working alongside "two titans of the food world."
The inquiry, carried out by an independent law firm and commissioned by MasterChef's production company Banijay, upheld 45 allegations relating to Wallace's behaviour on the programme. Those findings included one allegation of unwelcome physical contact and three allegations that Wallace had been in a state of undress while at work. The investigation followed a BBC News report that initially revealed claims of inappropriate sexual comments by Wallace.
Wallace issued a statement at the time saying he was "deeply sorry for any distress" he had caused and added that he had "never set out to harm or humiliate" anyone. The inquiry also upheld a separate claim that Wallace used a severely offensive racist term in reference to fellow MasterChef host John Torode. Torode did not present on the spin-off series MasterChef: The Professionals.
The BBC confirmed Tebbutt's appointment as the programme prepares to produce a new series under the amended judging line-up. Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti, both established figures in the culinary world, remain in place as judges for the professionals' series. Production company Banijay commissioned the independent probe after the initial BBC reporting prompted an internal review of conduct across the programme.
Tebbutt has presented Saturday Kitchen on the BBC and has been a familiar television figure in food broadcasting. His selection for MasterChef: The Professionals follows a period of scrutiny and personnel change for the franchise as producers implemented the findings of the inquiry. The BBC and Banijay have said they are taking steps to address the matters raised in the report, while the broadcaster and production company continue to review policies and workplace culture.
The MasterChef franchise has been a flagship culinary series in the UK for years, spawning several spin-offs and attracting high viewership. The Professional series focuses on experienced chefs and is distinct from the amateur editions; it has been judged historically by prominent chefs and restaurateurs. The replacement of a long-standing presenter such as Wallace marks a significant shift in the talent line-up for the franchise.
Further details about filming schedules and the broadcast date for the upcoming series have not been announced. The BBC said it would release more information about the new series and any additional production changes in due course.