The BBC's flagship cookery competition, Celebrity MasterChef, is facing a significant crisis as viewing figures have collapsed by nearly a third in the wake of scandals surrounding its former hosts, Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
A Dramatic Drop in Audience
The latest data reveals a stark decline for the celebrity spin-off. The first episode of the current series, which aired on November 17, failed to break into the industry-standard Barb's Top 50 programmes for the week. Since its launch, viewership has languished between 1.2 million and 1.4 million.
This represents a dramatic fall from the previous year. In 2023, the series ranked fifth in Barb's weekly list, attracting a peak audience of 2.6 million viewers. The show now finds itself dwarfed by primetime rivals. In the same week, ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! pulled in 9.5 million, while Strictly Come Dancing drew 8 million.
The Scandal That Rocked the Kitchen
The ratings slump follows unprecedented turmoil for the programme, which was fronted for nearly two decades by Wallace, 61, and Torode, 60. Wallace sensationally stood down last year as the BBC investigated allegations of 'inappropriate' on-set behaviour.
A subsequent inquiry upheld a staggering 45 complaints against Wallace. The allegations ranged from unwanted physical contact and bullying to sexual innuendo. Specific claims included mimicking a sex act towards a colleague and entering the studio naked except for a sock covering his penis.
The fallout deepened when Torode revealed he was the individual found to have used 'extremely offensive racist language' seven years ago in a separate investigation. One complaint against him was upheld. Both presenters were dismissed from the main show in July.
A New Era for MasterChef
In response to the crisis, the BBC has overhauled the presenting team. An all-female line-up has been installed for the amateur series, featuring food critic Grace Dent, 52, and Irish chef Anna Haugh, 45.
Dent currently appears alongside Torode in the ongoing celebrity series—confirmed to be his last. For future celebrity editions, Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli, 62, is set to replace Torode, partnering with Dent. Haugh has admitted the change is an opportunity to rescue the competition from its previous 'male energy'.
Meanwhile, Wallace has since claimed his recent autism diagnosis played a role in his behaviour, stating the BBC failed to provide adequate support for his condition during his 20 years on the show.
The future of Celebrity MasterChef now rests on its new presenters' ability to win back a disillusioned audience and restore the reputation of a once-unshakeable BBC institution.
