MASTERCHEF fans have called on Grace Dent to become the show’s permanent host after she appeared to take a subtle dig at under-fire Gregg Wallace.
The food critic posted a video showing her on the hit BBC series, strolling into the studio into a striking red dress.
Grace, 51, is a regular MasterChef critic, often appearing on-screen for civilian and celebrity instalments.
She uploaded a clip showing her presenting alongside John Torode, 59, as she prepared to judge a series of comfort food dishes.
Fans reckoned her clip was deliberately timed, with regular MasterChef host Gregg currently the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
Gregg has been accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb anchor Kirsty Wark – accusations he denies.
The 60-year-old has now stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
Yet the former greengrocer spoke out on social media this weekend and blasted the “women of a certain age” – with Grace’s glam look on her clip seemingly a dig at his words.
She edited the audio out of the clip – and instead let her fans do the talking in the comments.
One referenced Gregg’s words in their remark and put: “We need more women of a certain age on our screen.”
A second added: “New presenter please!! Would love to see Grace take over.”
A third mused: “What an entrance.”
One then put: “Yes please! Grace to get the job.”
Gregg spoke out about the allegations in a bizarre Instagram post this weekend.
He told his followers: “I have been doing Masterchef for 20 years – amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life.
“And apparently now I am reading in the paper there’s been 13 complaints in that time.
GREGG Wallace has stepped down from his MasterChef hosting role after a probe into alleged inappropriate behaviour. But what's the situation?
Regular MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is currently the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
Gregg has been accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb anchor Kirsty Wark – accusations he denies.
The 60-year-old has now stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
Yet the former greengrocer spoke out on social media to blast the “women of a certain age” who he claimed were behind the allegations.
The cooking show’s production company, Banijay UK, has said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
“In the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity Masterchef.
“This isn’t right.
“In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo, can you imagine?”
The cooking show’s production company, Banijay UK, yesterday said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
Meanwhile, former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aggie MacKenzie told Monday’s Good Morning Britain she supported co-star Kirsty Wark’s analysis of Gregg’s behaviour on-set.
She told the ITV daytime series of the broadcaster’s “smutty” humour on-set and said she can “non longer bear” to listen to his voice.
