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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Irish celebrity chef to replace Gregg Wallace on MasterChef in major shake-up after host's misconduct probe sacking
AN IRISH celebrity chef is set to cause a stir in the MasterChef kitchen — by replacing sacked presenter Gregg Wallace as the winner of the competition is crowned. Tallaght native Anna Haugh will join the MasterChef team for the final episodes of this season, bringing some serious Irish flavour to the iconic series. 4 Gregg Wallace was sacked by the BBC after allegations of inappropriate behaviour emerged 4 Tallaght native Anna Haugh will join the MasterChef show Credit: Bryan Meade - The Sunday Times 4 The Irish chef is set to replace Wallace in the final episodes of the series Its understood that the Irish cooking sensation will replace Wallace who was sacked from the BBC after allegations of inappropriate behaviour emerged against him during filming last November. Now, Dublin chef Anna Haugh is stepping up to the plate to replace Gregg for the final few episodes of the series. Last month, the BBC confirmed the new series of MasterChef would be broadcast in August, adding that it had "not been an easy decision in the circumstances". The BBC added: "Broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process". "We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series." The final series of MasterChef which features former presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode began on BBC One on Wednesday. However, Haugh is expected to finish out the last couple of episodes in the season, taking over from Wallace. Haugh has appeared on several BBC cooking shows, including her very own Big Irish Food Tour - in which she took a culinary tour of Ireland. The London-based foodie runs two swanky spots in the UK capital —Myrtlerestaurant and The Wee Sister wine bar. BBC botches bid to edit out sacked duo Gregg Wallace & John Torode from new Masterchef amid calls to axe scandal-hit show Anna lives in south London with her partner Richard Elwell, who co-owns Myrtle Sister, along with her son Oisin, and stepson Henry. But it wasn't always high-end dining and BBC studios for Anna. She was once offered a place to study graphic design at what's now TU Dublin, but turned it down to pursue her real passion—food. She trained in professional cookery at Cathal Brugha Street and cut her teeth at the Salthill Hotel in Galway before working her way through Michelin-starred kitchens across Dublin, London, Paris and the US. EARLY INSPIRATION One of her earliest gigs was under legendary Irish chef Derry Clarke at the Michelin-starred L'Ecrivain in Dublin's city centre. Speaking on The Anton Savage Show in May, Haugh said: "It was my second-year apprenticeship, so I was really keen to kind of learn the craft, and L'Ecrivain was a great place to teach you that." She also worked for Gordon Ramsay for 10 years, both in the UK and the US. In an Instagram post last year, she said: "I've always worked for talented, fiercely passionate chefs, but working for Gordon gave me the experience and strength to open up Myrtle Restaurant." 'DEMANDING JOB' 'I saw how supportive he was to everyone, including the often-forgotten kitchen porters. It was a demanding job and I loved it completely.' Myrtle and The Wee Sister, which sit side by side in London, showcase the best of Irish produce—with dishes such as boxty, Carlingford oysters and Clonakilty black pudding all on the menu. Back in July, Wallace, 60, was formally sacked by the BBC after an investigation into his behaviour. MasterChef presenter John Torode was also let go from the show. The BBC fired both hosts on the back of a report which revealed more than 40 historic complaints against Gregg had been upheld, along with a claim that John once used a racist term.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Dubliner Anna Haugh set for new series of MasterChef
Dublin chef Anna Haugh will star in the final episodes of the new series of BBC One's MasterChef, reportedly replacing former presenter Gregg Wallace as the winner of the competition is crowned. Haugh, the star of BBC Two's Anna Haugh's Big Irish Food Tour, is no stranger to MasterChef, as she has previously appeared on Celebrity MasterChef and as a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals. She owns Myrtle, a restaurant in Chelsea, London that serves European food with an Irish touch. Haugh has also been a guest judge on Gordon Ramsay's US show Hell's Kitchen, and her other TV credits BBC's Ready Steady Cook and Saturday Kitchen. In 2024, she published Cooking with Anna. The final series of MasterChef to feature former presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode began on BBC One on Wednesday. In November 2024, it was announced that Wallace would step away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated, and last month a statement from MasterChef makers Banijay UK and the BBC said they had agreed "Mr Wallace's return to MasterChef is untenable". In the wake of the Lewis Silkin review that saw 45 out of 83 allegations made against him upheld, Wallace issued an apology in which he said he was "deeply sorry for any distress caused" and that he "never set out to harm or humiliate". Torode was the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of the Lewis Silkin review, but the TV star said he had "no recollection of the incident" and was "shocked and saddened" by the allegation. Last month, the BBC confirmed the new series of MasterChef, which was filmed last year before allegations against Wallace and Torode were upheld, would be broadcast in August, adding that it had "not been an easy decision in the circumstances". The BBC added that "broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process". "We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series," it said. One of this year's contestants asked to be edited out of the series.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Dublin woman Anna Haugh to replace Gregg Wallace on MasterChef
Restaurateur Anna Haugh is the current host of Anna Haugh's Big Irish Food Tour on the BBC Celebrity chef and restaurateur Anna Haugh from Tallaght, Dublin, is set to replace Gregg Wallace in the final episodes of this year's MasterChef series. Wallace (60) stepped away from the show following allegations of misconduct, which first came to light last November. Haugh, who first moved to London 20 years ago, is the owner of the Myrtle Sister restaurant and The Wee Sister wine bar in London. The chef lives in the capital with her partner Richard Elwell, who co-owns the Mrytle Sister, along with her stepson Henry and son Oisín. Originally offered a place in what was the Dublin Institute of Technology, which is now Technological University Dublin, to study graphic design, she declined and attended the institute's Cathal Brugha Street campus to study professional cookery. From there, she gained experience in the Salthill Hotel in Galway before she began training under chefs in Michelin-starred kitchens in Dublin, London, Paris and the US. Her first foray into a top kitchen was when she worked for Irish celebrity chef Derry Clarke in his award-winning Michelin-star restaurant L'Ecrivain on Baggot Street in Dublin. Anna Haugh Speaking on The Anton Savage Show in May, Ms Haugh said: 'It was my second-year apprenticeship, so I was really keen to kind of learn the craft, and L'Ecrivain was a great place to teach you that.' She also worked for Gordon Ramsay for 10 years, both in the UK and the US. In an Instagram post last year, she said: 'I've always worked for talented, fiercely passionate chefs, but working for Gordon gave me the experience and strength to open up Myrtle Restaurant. 'I saw how supportive he was to everyone, including the often-forgotten kitchen porters. It was a demanding job and I loved it completely.' Haugh's restaurant and wine bar, which are beside each other, focus on food produced in Ireland and wines made across the world by Irish people. Anna Haugh. Photo: Nina Val. Former Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades charged with rape The restaurant, which she opened in 2019, serves dishes like boxty, Irish potato pancakes, Carlingford oysters and Clonakilty black pudding. It is described as offering 'modern European cooking with an Irish influence'. However, Haugh told Savage on his show earlier in the summer that the Irish cuisine was what was most in demand. 'Very quickly I realised that what people wanted was more of the Irishness, the culture, the food, the produce, the stories,' she said. Currently, Ms Haugh is the host of Anna Haugh's Big Irish Food Tour on the BBC, touring 15 counties with celebrities exploring Irish culture and cuisine. From making black pudding with Una Healy in Tipperary to catching trout with singer Shayne Ward in Louth, the chef traversed the country, experiencing Irish food. It won't be the first time Ms Haugh will appear on the amateur cooking competition, but it will be her first stint as a presenter. In 2022, she joined Wallace and Marcus Wareing as a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals. She has also appeared as a guest judge on Gordon Ramsay's US show Hell's Kitchen and as a chef on the BBC's Ready Steady Cook. She also makes appearances on daytime shows, including Saturday Kitchen, hosted by Matt Tebbutt. *This article was amended at 7.37pm, on August 7, 2025, to correct the spellings of Gregg Wallace, Gordon Ramsay and Shayne Ward
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gregg Wallace to be replaced by Irish chef Anna Haugh in final episodes of MasterChef 2025 series
The new MasterChef 2025 series controversially features sacked hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode – but the final episodes will see Wallace replaced by Irish chef and restaurateur Anna Haugh. This morning (Wednesday 6 August), the first three episodes of the series launched on BBC iPlayer. The first episode will also air on BBC One this evening, with the next two following on Thursday and Friday. The Independent understands that Wallace will be replaced by Haugh towards the end of the new series, since allegations of inappropriate behaviour emerged against him during filming last November. It is understood that Wallace won't feature in the series after the semi-finals. Haugh, best known for hosting the BBC cookery show Big Irish Food Tour, has made appearances on Celebrity MasterChef in the past, and in 2022, she joined Wallace and Marcus Wareing as a judge for MasterChef: The Professionals. She appeared as a guest judge on Gordon Ramsay's US show Hell's Kitchen and as a chef on BBC's Ready Steady Cook, and often imparts her cooking wisdom on daytime shows, including Saturday Kitchen. On her Big Irish Food Tour, Haugh is accompanied by celebrity friends as they explore the history of Irish cuisine and try different recipes. Stars including TV presenter Laura Whitmore, comedian Katherine Ryan and presenter Angela Scanlon have all made appearances on the series. In May 2019, Haugh founded the modern European and Irish-influenced Myrtle Restaurant in Chelsea, London. Restaurant critic and TV personality Grace Dent, meanwhile, was brought in to replace Wallace on the next series of Celebrity MasterChef, which has already been filmed. Wallace's MasterChef sacking came after an independent report substantiated 45 allegations against him, including claims of inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact. He has apologised 'for any distress caused', saying the report into his misconduct cleared him of 'the most serious and sensational accusations'. His co-host Torode was also the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of the Lewis Silkin review, but the TV star said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. When the BBC announced the 2025 series would be broadcast despite the controversy surrounding its hosts, a statement said it had 'not been an easy decision in the circumstances'. The BBC added that 'broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.' But the corporation said a decision had not yet been made regarding the celebrity series and the Christmas special. Six amateur chefs feature in the first heat of the current series, with both hosts appearing in the opening episode, in which Wallace says: 'Light the stoves, get yourselves a clean apron, and let's find some talent.' The pair's usual jokes appear to be considerably pared back, and there is less chatter between them and the chefs. In an interview with The Sun last month, Wallace apologised to anyone hurt by his behaviour, but insisted he is 'not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher'. He said: 'People think I'm a sex pest. I am not. I am not sexist or a misogynist, or any of it. There never were any accusations of sexual harassment.'
Belfast Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
TV chef Anna Haugh felt right at home on NI food tour: ‘I'd never been to Belfast... it felt unique'
Restaurateur joined by Carl Frampton, Ian McElhinney and more as food tour heads north Chef Anna Haugh felt like she was 'coming home' when she landed in Belfast to film a new TV show despite never having visited before. The 44-year-old visited the city as part of her new BBC TV series Anna Haugh's Big Irish Food Tour, teaming up with local celebs.
