Matt Tebbutt Exits MasterChef: The Professionals Hosting Role After One Series
Key Points
- Tebbutt exits main presenting role after a single season.
- Producers favor Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti as a two-person front for their strong chemistry.
- Banijay hasn't confirmed a lineup; Tebbutt may return as guest judge and stays busy with projects.
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.”
