Matt Tebbutt, the beloved Saturday Kitchen presenter, has responded in a cryptic manner when asked if he would replace Gregg Wallace as the host of MasterChef. The 60-year-old Gregg Wallace was reportedly dismissed by the BBC following a series of misconduct allegations, which led to his temporary replacement by food critic Grace Dent during the most recent Celebrity MasterChef series.
Grace Dent, who stepped in as host alongside long-term judge John Torode, recently expressed on Loose Women how much presenting the show meant to her. She described hosting MasterChef as her “dream job ever since she was a little girl,” adding, “When I felt that there might be some movement, and there might be a role, I wanted it and wanted it… It’s a dream come true, I’m so happy.”
With Gregg’s departure confirmed, speculation has intensified over who will take on the hosting role permanently. Matt Tebbutt, who took over Saturday Kitchen from James Martin in 2016 and has built a strong reputation, is said to be in talks about joining MasterChef.
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On the Grilled by The Staff Canteen podcast, Matt hinted at changes ahead for his own career: “It’s going to stop at some point. I’m going to have to do something.” In a March report, a source told The Sun that MasterChef producers were hopeful Matt would “make it his own” and officially co-host the show alongside John Torode. The source emphasized Matt’s success in stepping up after James Martin’s departure from Saturday Kitchen and expressed confidence he could replicate that for MasterChef.
When directly asked about the possibility, Matt responded to Muddy Stilettos with a reserved but intriguing statement: “Well, there’s always rumours, but it would be a great gig for sure!”
Matt Tebbutt trained at the prestigious Leiths School of Food and Wine in London, then honed his skills in several high-end restaurants. His television career began as a stand-in for James Martin on Saturday Kitchen. Over the years, he has also presented Food Unwrapped on Channel 4 and Market Kitchen alongside culinary personalities Tom Parker-Bowles and Matthew Fort. Beyond television, Matt owned the Foxhunter restaurant in Wales for 15 years and now leases it out.
Fans can catch Matt back on Saturday Kitchen from 10am on BBC One today (July 12), with guest chefs Ran Shmueli, Richard Bainbridge, and Crystelle Pereira. Singer Vanessa Williams will also be in the studio while wine expert Helen McGinn selects weekly wine picks. Additionally, there will be a nostalgic look back at memorable food moments from the BBC archive.