MasterChef fans, welcome to the new era with judges Grace Dent and Anna Haugh: “We take care of each other”

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The new season of the cooking contest is starting, and the contestants are arriving full of excitement and hope. We’ll meet everyone – from the confident steak and chips expert, to the man who recently tried eggs for the first time, and the hopeful chef who’s long dreamed of competing. As we watch from home, we’ll get to know and support these amateur cooks as they face the challenges of this famous competition.

This season isn’t just introducing new contestants – we’ve got new judges as well! Grace Dent, a restaurant critic, and chef Anna Haugh have both judged on other versions of MasterChef, but they’re really enjoying the challenge and energy of the original competition. They prefer it, actually.

Dent observes that contestants who make it past the initial rounds are impressive. Many plan elaborate dishes like beef bourguignon, practicing them repeatedly until everyone they know is tired of eating it. However, once they’re in the MasterChef kitchen, things fall apart. They suddenly find their ingredients aren’t quite right, they can’t locate anything, and even basic equipment like the stovetop seems unfamiliar. He compares it to trying to cook a simple omelette in an unfamiliar holiday rental.

Haugh points out that contestants are interviewed by a film crew and two tough judges. Dent explains she loves seeing genuine talent shine through, especially when someone immediately starts cooking with professional skill the moment the competition begins. That instant ability is exciting because it means the contestant has potential to improve with each challenge, and that’s exactly what the judges are hoping to find.

It wasn’t just the food, though. Haugh critically examined a bowl of chips placed on the table. Both women were incredibly hungry after a three-hour photoshoot. They both grabbed handfuls, and then the tasting – and judging – began. “These chips aren’t very good,” Haugh commented. “You’d think they’d try harder knowing they were being served to a food critic and a chef,” Dent added with a touch of sarcasm. Despite their criticism, they continued eating. This led to the question: how do they manage to still have room for all the delicious courses on their show?

According to Haugh, his method is straightforward: he doesn’t eat throughout the day, so he’s genuinely hungry when he evaluates food. This heightened hunger, he believes, allows him to fully experience the flavors and subtle nuances of each dish. However, he cautions that it’s important to pace yourself at the beginning of a tasting, especially when there are many dishes still to come. He always keeps in mind the judges who will taste later in the session, particularly when assessing the first few offerings.

I start my day at 5am by looking at recipes. Then I take a taxi to get hair and makeup done and choose my outfit,” Dent explains. “By that point, I haven’t had much to eat. After that, it’s a lot of waiting before we actually get to taste the food. And when we do eat, it’s often small portions – just bites – from each of the six contestants’ three-course meals. Really, just morsels!”

Haugh chuckled and said he’d witnessed my impressive dessert-eating skills firsthand. He playfully pointed out that I once ate a whole dessert so quickly it seemed like a competition, even going so far as to lick the bowl clean.

That’s a nice benefit of the job! It makes you wonder, when they’re not filming, what kinds of treats do these food lovers secretly enjoy? After a moment, Dent confesses she could happily eat trifle all the time. Haugh replies that her weakness is cheese, especially Torres crisps from Spain – freshly made potato chips. She jokes that just like Grace loves desserts, she loves cheese, and probably eats far too much of it.

The two women have a close and supportive relationship, already working well together as a team. Haugh explains they look out for each other, offering small adjustments like fixing hair or reapplying lipstick to help each other feel confident and perform their best.

They’re a striking pair – one with a glamorous, show-stopping style, and the other with a clean, classic look. This contrast in their appearances mirrors how their backgrounds and skills fit together perfectly. Haugh, originally from Dublin, is the chef and owner of Myrtle, a popular Irish/Modern British restaurant in London, and he brings a practical, hardworking kitchen atmosphere to their partnership.

Grace Dent, a journalist and broadcaster originally from Carlisle, is a well-known food critic for The Guardian. She’s become so recognizable that restaurant staff often react with surprise when she visits. While she sometimes makes reservations under a different name, she admits restaurants quickly identify her, especially after appearing as a guest on MasterChef in 2012, which ended her ability to dine anonymously.

Both judges share a similar background having worked in fields traditionally dominated by men. Beneath their pleasant exteriors lies a remarkable determination – a confident and successful drive – that allowed them to break into exclusive worlds, like the culinary scene led by Michel Roux and the often-critical world of Michael Winner.

Dent says he always dreamed of being a food critic. Growing up in Carlisle, he received no support from his family in pursuing this goal. While at university, he frequently entered journalism contests and eventually won an award from Cosmopolitan magazine. He then moved to London, starting as an intern at Marie Claire, and worked for various publications. He thrived in the vibrant London restaurant scene and enjoyed the city’s endless dining options.

Dent admires several iconic figures from British journalism. She recalls being captivated by Eve Pollard (a famous tabloid editor and Claudia Winkleman’s mother) on breakfast television, and also looks up to Anne Robinson, Janet Street-Porter, Jean Rook, and Julie Burchill.

“Suddenly there were all these women, holding their own against the men, and they wrote columns and books and did telly and radio, and I suddenly realised that there was a job out there for women to be able to do exciting things. Although,” she laughs, eating another (substandard) chip, “you have to be able to cope with the rejection. That never stops. You just become more immune to it. Now if someone tells me I can’t do something, I just go home and work out who else I can ask.”

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Anna Haugh is a highly motivated and resolute person. She recalls a moment when a friend’s mother suggested she might enjoy being a chef, noticing a special passion Anna displayed while cooking. It took a few years to realize, but when she first entered a quiet kitchen, she felt an immediate sense of belonging. She believes that cooking wasn’t a choice she made, but rather a path that chose her.

My dad disapproved of my decision for about ten years and constantly pressured me about it. Eventually, he apologized for being so difficult, telling me he was proud of my success and my perseverance.

Dent and Haugh now host MasterChef, taking over from Gregg Wallace and John Torode, who presented the show for many years before leaving. Were the new female hosts intimidated by the challenge of following in their footsteps?

Haugh started by saying the show is about more than any single person, praising the talent of the contestants and explaining the show simply reflects their abilities. Dent was more straightforward. She emphasized she isn’t cleaning up anyone else’s mess, and is confidently leading what she believes is the most important food show in British television history. She playfully asked Haugh for reassurance, laughing, “Am I doing well?” Haugh quickly confirmed she was. Dent then explained she wouldn’t have approached the job the same way a year ago, suggesting a focus on moving forward, and her tone implied she found the question almost insulting.

Might MasterChef rise with these two in charge? I think it’s highly likely. Bon appétit!

Authors

Rosie Millard

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2026-04-13 20:11