MasterChef Returns with Latest Judges Grace Dent and Anna Haugh for Series 22

The BBC’s flagship cooking competition MasterChef is back for its 22nd series, premiering on BBC One on Tuesday, 21 April 2026. This season marks a significant turning point for the show, following the departure of long-standing judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode after their contracts were not renewed in July 2025. In their place, restaurant critic and journalist Grace Dent and Irish chef Anna Haugh have been appointed as the new co-hosts, bringing fresh energy and perspective to the series.

Both Dent and Haugh are no strangers to the MasterChef franchise. Dent has previously appeared as a guest judge on Celebrity MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, and the main series, even stepping in as a main judge alongside John Torode in the most recent series of Celebrity MasterChef. Haugh, meanwhile, has also served as a guest judge across various iterations of the show and is widely recognised for her culinary expertise and television appearances, including on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen.

Who is Grace Dent?

Grace Dent is a highly respected restaurant critic and journalist, best known for her perform with The Guardian, where she writes a regular food column. She has also contributed to The Independent, The Evening Standard, and numerous other publications. Beyond journalism, Dent is an accomplished author, having written a series of novels and her memoir Hungry: A Memoir of Wanting More. She previously hosted the popular food podcast Comfort Eating With Grace Dent, produced by The Guardian.

Speaking about her new role, Dent emphasized continuity and respect for the show’s legacy: “I don’t sense I am ‘picking up’ after anybody. I’ve been going to work every day at the helm of the most important food show, probably in British television history. I think I’m doing well.” She also shared a personal connection to the programme, recalling how watching MasterChef with her father in Carlisle sparked her early interest in food criticism: “We used to laugh our heads off at the critics… And then lo and behold…”

Who is Anna Haugh?

Anna Haugh is an Irish chef born in Dublin in 1980 and raised in the suburb of Tallaght. She attended Presentation Secondary School in Terenure before training at the TU Dublin School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology. Her professional career has seen her work in some of the most prestigious kitchens in Europe and London, including stints alongside celebrated chefs Philip Howard, Shane Osborn, and Gordon Ramsay, as well as Gualtiero Marchesi in Paris.

In May 2019, Haugh launched her own restaurant, Myrtle, in Chelsea, London. Named in honour of Myrtle Allen — the Irish Michelin-star-winning head chef and co-founder of Ballymaloe House — the restaurant has garnered critical acclaim for its modern Irish cuisine. Haugh has also been a familiar face on British television, appearing regularly on Saturday Kitchen and other food-focused programmes.

Reflecting on her partnership with Dent, Haugh described their dynamic as natural and collaborative: “Our relationship definitely took a much closer turn since we were together all the time. Finishing each other’s sentences.” She added with humour that Dent would need to wear “a wig and glasses” to sneak into her restaurant for a review — a comment Dent laughed off, saying she “would love that.”

A Fresh Start for MasterChef

The 22nd series of MasterChef features 48 amateur cooks competing over seven weeks of intense culinary challenges. The official synopsis promises: “Seven weeks of battle stand between those amateurs and their dream of taking the title, but only one will hit the gold standard and become MasterChef Champion 2026. Only one thing is guaranteed: getting there will be no walk in the park.”

Both judges have stressed their commitment to creating a supportive and positive environment for contestants. As Dent put it in an interview with The Guardian: “We don’t just point at scallops. It’s full on!” — signalling a hands-on, engaged approach to judging that prioritises encouragement over intimidation.

With Dent’s sharp wit and deep food knowledge paired with Haugh’s technical precision and warm presence, the new judging duo aims to honour MasterChef’s legacy while guiding it into a new era. As the series unfolds, viewers can expect not only high-stakes cooking but also genuine camaraderie and insightful feedback from two of Britain’s most trusted food voices.