The BBC has confirmed Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt will replace Gregg Wallace in MasterChef: The Professionals.
He will join Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti.
The 51-year-old chef said: ‘It’s an absolute honour to be working alongside these two titans of the food world.
‘Their knowledge and uncompromising attitude is now the stuff of legend and I look forward to them taking me under their wing and seeing the chefs get off to a flying start in the competition!’
His appointment comes after MasterChef hosts Wallace and John Torode were removed from the show after an independent review.
The review upheld 45 out of 83 misconduct allegations against the former and substantiated the use of racial language with the latter, although he doesn’t recall the incident.
Meanwhile, Wareing said he was ‘really looking forward’ to working with Tebbutt.
He added: ‘His experience, both on screen and in the industry, speaks for itself. This show is all about showcasing and celebrating the best up and coming talent emerging from our country’s professional kitchens and Matt, Monica and I will be expecting the highest standards from our chefs this year.
‘I can’t wait for what will be a fantastic next series.’
Galetti echoed the sentiments, continuing: ‘Seeing what skills our contestants showcase and tasting their culinary creations is always a delight – Marcus and I look forward to welcoming Matt to the MasterChef studios and discovering our next champion.’
Elsewhere, MasterChef Executive Editor David Ambler called him the ‘ideal choice’ while BBC’s Head of Entertainment, Kalpna Patel-Knight praised his ‘natural warmth’ and ‘sharp eye for talent’.
The BBC has yet to confirm who will replace the pair in the main amateur series.
It is reported that Great British Menu’s Andi Oliver may be helming the new series alongside new Professionals host Tebbutt.
The show has been under immense scrutiny in recent weeks after the national broadcaster decided to air the unreleased MasterChef season, still featuring Wallace and Torode.
In total, two of the contestants requested to be edited out of the show due to the recent scandals.
After the second person requested to be edited out, a spokesperson for the show’s production company, Banijay, said: ‘One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included.
‘We have, of course, accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show.’
There is currently no release date for MasterChef: The Professionals.
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