MasterChef's 'smart move' to pick female judges has to avoid being 'tokenistic'

MasterChef will never be the same again following the departure Gregg Wallace and John Torode but replacing them with Anna Haugh and Grace Dent is a "smart move" for the BBC - if they do it right.

Changes already seem to be happening on the show as Wallace has been missing from the final few episodes. But while his absence so far has been unofficial and, so far, ignored by everyone else on the show, the judge's axe from the show has already been confirmed for future series and a replacement put in place.

When it was announced that both Wallace and Torode would not be on the show moving forward - due to a sexual harassment scandal for one and racism claims for the other - and be replaced with chef Haugh and food critic Dent, many fans flocked to social media to emphatically say they would not watch another series.

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"It's gone woke," one complained. "I'm out, you made a mistake," said another. "John should still be there," a third penned, while another poster wrote, "Good luck to them both but I won't be watching." Few people said replacing Gregg and John with Anna and Grace was a good idea.

But, PR expert Chad Teixeira said the replacements were actually a very "smart move", provided it is "handled well".

"From a PR perspective, it's a smart move for the BBC. It refreshes the brand of the show while broadening its appeal," he said. "Two women with distinct personalities and professional backgrounds should create a fresher, more conversational energy on screen. If handled well, it could feel both more modern and more engaging for today’s viewers."

Fans feel they know exactly why Anna and Grace have been hired - and it's not because of their "distinct personalities". One fan remarked, "Getting rid of John stinks of them wanting to put two women in," summarising the feelings of many.

Teixeira didn't deny this could be the case and, in fact, said this was a "deliberate and symbolic decision". He added that this was not a bad thing for the BBC, given how male-heavy a lot of cooking shows have been. "Food television has long been dominated by male figures, so presenting an all-female panel shows the BBC is willing to challenge tradition and modernise."

But the BBC have to get it right. "The key now is chemistry, if the panel feels authentic and dynamic, this move will be seen as progressive rather than tokenistic."

The appointment of Haugh and Dent comes after an inquiry upheld 45 claims of inappropriate sexual language against Wallace and found evidence of culturally insensitive and racist comments were made by Torode. The allegations against Wallace were so severe, some contestants did not want the latest series, which had already been filmed, to to be aired. Whilst that series has been allowed on screen with the male judging duo at the helm, the pair are being replaced from next series onwards.

When asked if Wallace's sexual harassment allegations will have affected the BBC's decision to choose an all-female judging panel, the network chose not to comment. But Teixeira said the hiring choices might help bring some who were put off by the scandal back to the fold.

"While it won’t erase past controversy entirely, it reframes the narrative, shifting attention from scandal to innovation and inclusivity. The BBC’s challenge will be to sustain that positive story beyond the launch."

As Wallace and Torode's last series of MasterChef comes to an end, Teixeira makes a prediction for the future. "Change always sparks mixed reactions. Some long-time viewers may be cautious, but many will welcome the injection of new energy and fresh perspectives. Younger audiences in particular tend to respond positively to representation and change, so the BBC could capture a new demographic while retaining its loyal base."

He added that if the BBC wanted to make the most of this change and expand their audience, they should have said more about their decision and why it was made. "The announcement itself was strong, but the BBC could have maximised impact with a clearer narrative around why these particular women were chosen."

"Positioning it not just as a replacement, but as part of a broader evolution of the show, would help anchor the decision in vision rather than reaction. Longer-term, the BBC should also build storylines around the judges as individuals, showcasing their expertise and personalities so audiences feel invested in them, not just the format."

The MasterChef finale airs on 26 September at 8pm on BBC One.

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