Controversial celebrity chef making his long-awaited return to MasterChef

is returning to Australia to judge again. confirmed that the controversial TV judge will appear as a guest judge on the new season of the Back to Win competition. The legendary British icon will be joined by kitchen regulars Sofia Levin, Poh Ling Yeow, Andy Allen, and Jean-Christophe Novelli. Gordon last appeared on the cooking competition as a judge in 2018, and the new series is set to drop on April 28. It comes after Gordon was tipped to be an early favourite to replace Gregg Wallace on the UK version of the show.

The Scottish-born presenter leads a star-studded list of potential replacement hosts for the BBC show, with Gino D'Acampo, Matt Tebbutt, and Fred Sirieix also in contention. Other notable names in the betting include Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain.

According to, Gregg Wallace's departure from MasterChef prompted rumours that Gordon was the lead frontrunner to replace him. A spokesperson said, "Ramsay is the 5/1 frontrunner to take over judging duties on the programme, putting him narrowly ahead of Gino D'Acampo."

Wallace stepped down from the role in November 2024 after multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made against him. He strongly denies all allegations.

Food critic Grace Dent has been substituting for Wallace as a temporary judge on Celebrity MasterChef since he stepped away from his role. It is unknown whether Grace will continue on the show in the future.

Grace has admitted it was a "dream come true" to be asked to fill the former greengrocer's shoes, but she felt a slight hint of trepidation about taking over.

Speaking to Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley on 'This Morning' on Monday (06.01.25), she said: "Maybe for about 10 seconds.

"Now I've got those reigns - no. It's one of those wonderful shows on British TV, and when you go out into the public, you feel that you can't eat anywhere in privacy ever again, you can't even go into a supermarket without people looking into your trolley and going, 'I can't believe she's bought that.'"

Before her new appointment, Grace regularly appeared on the BBC cookery show as a guest judge, but she highlighted that being a host is a "very different job" because it involves the power of sending people home.

She added: "I've never sent a person home, and now I am that person, I am now the baddie - and I don't enjoy doing that."