Matt Tebbutt is confirmed as judge for MasterChef: The Professionals

He joins Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti as a judge for the next series on BBC One and iPlayer

It’s an absolute honour to be working alongside these two titans of the food world. Their knowledge and uncompromising attitude is now the stuff of legend and I look forward to them taking me under their wing and seeing the chefs get off to a flying start in the competition!

— Matt Tebbutt

Matt Tebbutt is to be a judge for the next series of MasterChef: The Professionals alongside Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Best known as host of Saturday Kitchen on BBC One Matt has a wealth of experience in the

restaurant industry as well as in TV and authoring cookbooks and regularly contributing to food and travel magazines.

The three judges will also be joined by a variety of exciting guest judges in the first stage of the competition. With their own experience and food backgrounds helping to oversee the Skills Tests, the guest judge in each Heat will add another element of surprise for the professional chefs walking through the MasterChef kitchen doors for the very first time.

As Matt looks ahead to the upcoming 18th series of MasterChef: The Professionals with Marcus and Monica, he says: “It’s an absolute honour to be working alongside these two titans of the food world. Their knowledge and uncompromising attitude is now the stuff of legend and I look forward to them taking me under their wing and seeing the chefs get off to a flying start in the competition!”

Marcus Wareing says: “I’m really looking forward to working with Matt and his experience, both on screen and in the industry, speaks for itself. This show is all about showcasing and celebrating the best up and coming talent emerging from our country’s professional kitchens and Matt, Monica and I will be expecting the highest standards from our chefs this year. I can’t wait for what will be a fantastic next series.”

Monica Galetti says: “To have Matt join us is really exciting. Seeing what skills our contestants showcase and tasting their culinary creations is always a delight - Marcus and I look forward to welcoming Matt to the MasterChef studios and discovering our next champion.”

MasterChef Executive Editor, David Ambler, says: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome Matt on board for the next series of MasterChef: The Professionals. His career as a chef, restaurateur and food broadcaster makes him an ideal choice to join this year’s judging line-up and we can’t wait to discover the crop of exciting new talent.”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC says: “With a natural warmth that viewers already love from Saturday Kitchen, coupled with a sharp eye for talent, Matt will be bringing a wealth of culinary expertise to the MasterChef kitchen and will be a fantastic addition to the line-up alongside Monica and Marcus.”

The transmission date will be confirmed in due course.

MasterChef: The Professionals (21 x 60’) is a Shine TV (part of Banijay UK) production for BBC One and iPlayer, commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning for the BBC. The Executive Editor is David Ambler and the Series Editor is Genevieve Welch. The Commissioning Editors for the BBC are Nasfim Haque and Sarah Clay.