Fired MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has taken a swipe at the show's viewing figures, telling trolls to look at MasterChef figures since he left after being mocked for filming KFC reviews from the boot of his car.
Wallace was dismissed by the BBC in July 2025 after more than 40 misconduct claims were upheld following an inquiry into his behaviour. His exit ended a long tenure at the front of one of Britain's best-known cooking competitions, a programme he had presented for two decades and which had become synonymous with his enthusiastic presenting style.
The revamped series, fronted by Grace Dent and Anna Haugh, launched with a 28-day consolidated rating of 2.7 million viewers. Wallace has seized on the numbers as vindication, suggesting the programme has struggled without him and that the audience has voted with its remote controls. His comments came in response to online mockery of his post-BBC career, which has seen him filming fast-food reviews from the boot of his car, a striking comedown for a man who once fronted one of television's biggest brands.
The BBC has stood by its decision. The inquiry that led to Wallace's dismissal was one of the most serious the corporation has faced in relation to a flagship entertainment presenter, and executives have been determined to draw a line under the saga and rebuild trust with staff and viewers. The corporation has invested heavily in the new presenting line-up and in refreshed production values.
MasterChef remains one of the BBC's most valuable formats, with a global footprint that spans dozens of countries and versions. The corporation will be hoping the new presenting line-up can steady the ship and rebuild the show's reputation after a bruising period that also saw the departure of his co-host.
For Wallace, the spat over ratings is the latest sign that he has no intention of going quietly. Whether viewers agree with his assessment of the figures, his departure has undeniably marked the end of an era for the programme, and the battle over its legacy is being fought in public, one social media post at a time.
Wallace's career since the sacking has been closely watched. The presenter, who became a household name through his enthusiastic presenting style, has been rebuilding his public profile through social media, where his lo-fi food reviews have attracted a curious following. Whether that audience translates into a sustainable second act remains an open question. For the BBC, the priority is stability: the corporation has invested heavily in Dent and Haugh and will be judged on whether the revamped format can win back viewers who drifted away during the scandal.