Key Points
- Brought in after Gregg Wallace’s sudden exit amid a misconduct probe, Tebbutt had big shoes to fill
- Rumoured to make future cameo appearances as a guest judge, says The Sun
- Banijay won’t confirm lineup; insiders insist Tebbutt’s performance wasn’t the issue and he’s taken it in stride
Why This Matters
This matters because the show’s decision favors established judge chemistry over presenter flash, calming fans rattled by Gregg Wallace’s exit while preserving Tebbutt as a guest option and keeping MasterChef’s hard-edged culinary credibility intact.
MATT Tebbutt is reportedly not returning as presenter of MasterChef: The Professionals after joining the BBC cooking competition for just one season.
Producers believe the series can continue with longtime judges Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti leading the show.
Tebbutt, 52, stepped into the role last year after Gregg Wallace exited the MasterChef spin-off following an inquiry into alleged misconduct.
While he may not remain in the main presenting lineup, reports suggest producers are interested in bringing him back as a guest judge in future episodes, according to The Sun.
A source claimed the decision was not related to Tebbutt’s performance, saying he “didn’t do anything wrong” and that the show’s bosses felt Wareing and Galetti’s established chemistry made a two-person format work best.
The source also said Tebbutt has taken the change in stride and remains busy with other projects.
“There might be a few eyebrows raised that Matt isn’t staying on given he has just joined,” said the telly mole.
“He didn’t do anything wrong and will definitely come back to the series as a guest in the future.
“But bosses simply realised that they could get away with just having Marcus and Monica at the helm, especially as their chemistry is great and they have a tight relationship.
“Three was a bit of a crowd.
“Matt has taken it all in his stride and has plenty of other work to keep him busy. The whole experience was brilliant exposure for him.”
Banijay, the company behind the series, did not confirm the report. A spokesperson said that no decisions have been made yet about the presenting lineup for future series and declined to comment further on speculation.
The rep said: “No decisions have been made yet about the presenting line up for the future series of MasterChef.
“We won’t comment on speculation.”
When Tebbutt was first announced for the role in September, he said it was “an absolute honour” to work alongside Wareing and Galetti, calling them “titans of the food world.”
Why They Are Trending
Marcus Wareing is trending as BBC producers reportedly plan to anchor MasterChef: The Professionals around him and Monica Galetti, favouring their chemistry and a tighter two-person presenting format after Tebbutt’s brief stint. Monica Galetti is dominating headlines as producers reportedly want her and Marcus Wareing to front MasterChef: The Professionals, banking on their established chemistry to return the show to a focused two-judge presentation. Gregg Wallace is back in the conversation over MasterChef after his exit from the spin-off amid an inquiry into alleged misconduct, the shake-up that eventually led to Matt Tebbutt stepping in last season. Matt Tebbutt is trending after reports say he's departing as MasterChef: The Professionals host after just one series, with producers eyeing Wareing and Galetti to helm the show—though guest judging seems possible.
