Скачать или смотреть Why has Monica Galetti left MasterChef: The Professionals? Who new judge Anna Haugh is and why s

A new series of MasterChef: The Professionals has arrived on the BBC, with a fresh selection of the UK’s most promising chefs vying for glory. While the format will be familiar for fans of the show, there has been a shake-up of the judging panel, necessitated by the absence of Monica Galetti. Instead, Anna Haugh will be joining Marcus Wareing and Gregg Wallace as judge on this series – here’s why. Why has Monica Galetti left MasterChef: The Professionals? Galetti announced that she would be taking a break for the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals back in April, but said “I hope to be back soon”. Along with Wallace, the chef had been part of the show’s three-pronged judging panel for 14 years, firstly joined by Michel Roux Jr and, from 2014 onwards, alongside Wareing. Marcus Wareing, Gregg Wallace and Anna Hough are the judges on this series (Photo: BBC) In a statement, Galetti said: “It is with a heavy heart that I’ve made this decision to step back from filming this year’s series of MasterChef: The Professionals. “My family need me, my restaurant needs me and trying to balance long filming days over the next three months with all these commitments meant that something had to give. “So, for the moment, my focus has to be 100 per cent about my loved ones and rebuilding my kitchen team who have had a battering over the last few months especially. Those in the hospitality industry know just how tough it is at the moment. “To my MasterChef family, crew and friends, I’m so sorry that I won’t be with you this year but I hope to be back soon. “Thank you to both BBC and Shine TV for being so understanding of my decision but for this year I’ll be your number one supporter from the side lines. “To my fellow judges and friends Marcus and Gregg – I’ll be watching – you’ve got this! If you’re ever unsure just think – what would Mon do?! Haugh, 41, has been a professional chef for almost 20 years and is currently the chef patron of Myrtle Restaurant in Chelsea. She started her apprenticeship in L’Ecrivain in Dublin, where she is from, before going on to to work in Paris for Gualtiero Marchesi, considered the founder of the new Italian cuisine. When Anna moved to London, she worked first with Shane Osborn at Pied à Terre, and then Philip Howard at The Square, before helping open London House for Gordon Ramsay as head chef. Hough paid tribute to Galetti after joining MasterChef: The Professionals (Photo: BBC) Anna said: “MasterChef has an impeccable reputation and legacy within the hospitality industry. “I have long-admired Monica as an incredible chef and she’s paved the way for female chefs. It’s a privilege to be keeping her seat warm in the MasterChef kitchen.” MasterChef executive editor, David Ambler, said: “Anna brings a wealth of culinary expertise and experience to the competition, and we’re delighted to welcome her as a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals.”