Masterchef 2026: The news has been announced that Grace Dent and Anna Haugh will be the new judges for the forthcoming 22nd amateur series on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer.
Award-winning restaurant critic and journalist, Grace Dent, and Chef Patron of Myrtle Restaurant and TV presenter, Anna Haugh, are both experienced MasterChef judges across various series.
Grace has been a regular guest critic on MasterChef for over a decade, and was a contestant herself competing on MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023. She is also a judge in the next series of Celebrity MasterChef.
Meanwhile Anna Haugh was a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2022 and will be a judge in the final week of this year’s MasterChef, which is currently airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
MasterChef Executive Editor, David Ambler, said: “A big welcome to Grace and Anna to the MasterChef judging team. Both are enormously respected in the hospitality industry and we can’t wait for them to uncover some more great cooking talent – from home kitchens across the country.”
Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning: “Grace and Anna are already part of the MasterChef family and together have culinary credentials that are second to none. Both viewers watching the series and the amateur cooks taking part can be assured that in the search for the next MasterChef UK Champion, Grace and Anna know exactly what is needed in order to rise to the top!”
Grace Dent says: “I’m over the moon to be coming back to the MasterChef kitchen and unearthing what culinary skills people have been cooking up behind closed doors. It’s a joy to be working with Anna, who brings all her incredible experience to the table. I am in for such a treat with this series, I can’t wait to get started.”
Anna Haugh says: “I’m delighted to be back on MasterChef and judging alongside the wonderful Grace Dent, whose writing and wit I’ve admired for years. MasterChef has long inspired and resonated with cooks in home kitchens and of course in my industry. I can’t wait to get into the studio for what will be a great competition.”
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.