Both are no stranger to the Masterchef brand with Haugh having been a judge on both Masterchef and its spin-off The Professionals series and Dent having appeared as a guest critic on the main MasterChef programme and even competed herself on MasterChef: Battle of the Critics in 2023.
The chef patron at Chelsea restaurant Myrtle, the Dublin-born Haugh is also a chef on the BBC’s Ready Steady Cook reboot.
Dent is the restaurant critic at The Guardian and host of the popular Comfort Eating podcast.
“I’m delighted to be back on MasterChef and judging alongside the wonderful Grace Dent, whose writing and wit I’ve admired for years,” Haugh said on her appointment. MasterChef has long inspired and resonated with cooks in home kitchens and of course in my industry. I can’t wait to get into the studio for what will be a great competition.”
Dent added: “It’s a joy to be working with Anna, who brings all her incredible experience to the table. I am in for such a treat with this series, I can’t wait to get started.”
The appointments follow the axing of longstanding hosts Greg Wallace and John Torode earlier this summer.
Wallace was fired following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour substantiated 45 claims that included use of sexual language and one of unwanted physical contact.
Torode was subsequently also fired after an allegation of him using racist language was substantiated as part of the same investigation.
The BBC decided to broadcast this year’s amateurs series of MasterChef - with both Wallace and Torode in it - for the sake of the chefs who had taken part in it.
Yesterday, it was announced that Matt Tebbutt will replace Gregg Wallace as judge for the next series of MasterChef: The Professionals.
The Saturday Kitchen host will join Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti on the programme.