In the MasterChef kitchen
To MasterChef’s iconic kitchen in central London on the first day of January’s heavy snowfall in the capital. Even though MasterChef is now on its sixth series, hosts John Torode and Gregg Wallace’s enthusiasm for all things foodie is undimmed – there’s barely the chance to get a question in edgeways during our 40-minute chat. To kick off, I asked Gregg how he feels at the beginning of a series, which goes on for eight weeks.
‘I’m excited by the quality of the contestants we’re going to see, and concerned by how big my belly is going to be by the end!’ he replies.
As their waistlines wax and wane, the charismatic duo have inched their way into the nation’s affections, along with That Catchphrase uttered by Gregg at the beginning of each programme – and, points out John with pride, being namechecked by Gavin And Stacey.
‘We now know MasterChef has made it because we were on the final episode of Gavin And Stacey – all the family were sitting around watching it! People taking the p*** out of it – it’s hilarious!’
As the snowflakes drift past the window, it puts John and Gregg in mind of the day in 2005 when they watched the first cut of themselves co-hosting the revamped MasterChef.
‘I nearly cried,’ announces Gregg, unexpectedly. ‘It was such a brave decision to revamp MasterChef with a couple of blue-collar boys presenting it – in the days of Loyd Grossman it was very much a Sunday afternoon, Home Counties type of show. I was really unsure of what to expect…’
But as he tails away, for once at a loss for words, John obligingly takes up the slack.
‘We went to the pub after we watched it, it was snowing and you went out and hid in a phone box!’ he reveals, laughing. ‘And you got a hot dog!’
‘I was bigger then,’ says Gregg ‘and it was one of those phone boxes that just cover your head. I couldn’t get a train home so I called my then-wife to come and pick me up. I couldn’t get me belly into the phone box so by the time she turned up I had a pile of snow on top of it!’
By Martina Fowler
