Former MasterChef judge Marco Pierre White isn’t exactly known for mincing his words – and he’s now given a no-holds-barred verdict on the popular cookery series, telling fans: “Don’t take it seriously.”

The 64-year-old has made numerous MasterChef appearances over the years, serving as a principal judge and co-host on multiple series of Australia’s MasterChef: The Professionals and popping up on the South Africa and New Zealand versions of the show.

In 2024, he appeared as a guest judge in the grand final of the BBC’s MasterChef. But White’s latest comments suggest he perhaps won’t be rushing back to the studios.

Describing MasterChef as “a reality show”, he told the Daily Mirror: “When it comes to the tasting the food is three, four hours old. It's cold food.

“It is a TV show, don't take it seriously. It is not real. It is fantasy. If it makes you want to cook then that is all that matters. It’s food porn."

White first worked as a chef in Harrogate before moving to London in the early 1980s, where he began classical training under the tutelage of Albert and Michel Roux at the highly-esteemed Le Gavroche.

By the late 1980s, White was overseeing his own establishments and in 1995, he became the youngest chef to receive three Michelin stars – which he famously handed back when he quit daily kitchen work in 1999.

The star then turned his attention to investing as a restaurateur and making a name for himself as a celebrity and television chef.

MasterChef has occasionally proven to be the perfect springboard for home cooks who have gone on to have hugely successful careers in the food industry.

Thomasina Miers won the series in 2005, before going on to found the hugely popular restaurant chain Wahaca, and Dean Edwards - now resident chef on ITV’s Lorraine - was a runner-up the following year.

More recently, MasterChef has had a tumultuous couple of years.

In November 2024, it was announced that longtime host Gregg Wallace would temporarily step away from the show amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour and sexual misconduct.

In July 2025, an independent review commissioned by MasterChef’s production company upheld 43 of the 85 allegations and Wallace’s permanent departure was announced.

The majority of the upheld claims related to inappropriate sexual language, or culturally insensitive or racist remarks. The presenter said in a statement at the time that "none of the serious allegations against me were upheld”.

He added: "I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended."

In the same month, it was announced that his co-host John Torode had been dismissed for historic “racist remarks”.

Torode said he had “absolutely no recollection of any of this and I do not believe that it happened”, but added: "However, I want to be clear that I've always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.

“I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence."

MasterChef is now hosted by food critic Grace Dent and Irish chef Anna Haugh.