Celebrity MasterChef’s John Torode addresses ‘tension’ with Gregg Wallace: ‘We lead separate lives’

MasterChef judges John Torode (left) and Gregg Wallace (right) won’t be hanging out anytime soon (Picture: BBC/Shine TV)

John Torode and Gregg Wallace may have become one of TV’s favourite duos on MasterChef, but don’t be fooled: they’re in no rush to become best friends anytime soon.

The pair have been working together for more than 30 years, since Gregg was a greengrocer who supplied John’s restaurant.

Together, they’ve devoured the good, the bad and the downright awful dinners on MasterChef as judges and presenters, but their relationship largely stays in the confinements of the BBC programme’s kitchen.

‘We lead separate lives,’ John told Radio Times.

‘At no stage have we morphed into each other, which means there’s always going to be a little frisson here and there.’

However, he stressed: ‘It’s no bad thing; there’s an energy with that tension, which is useful.

‘We never know for sure what the other will think about a dish.’

John and Gregg will be back on screens later this month for Celebrity MasterChef, which boasts one of its most exciting line-ups yet with Maya Jama, Bez and Katie Price all serving up their best dishes for the two judges.

Looking at the first Celebrity MasterChef trailer, which dropped last week, Katie – who admitted herself she can ‘burn a cup of tea’ – strikes panic in the hearts of Gregg and John.

Last year’s Celebrity MasterChef was one by YouTube star and presenter Riyadh Khalaf, who triumphed over Sir Matthew Pinsent and current Olympics commentator and broadcaster, Sam Quek.

Celebrity MasterChef launches on BBC One at 9pm on August 9. Read John’s full interview in this week’s Radio Times.  

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