MATT Tebbutt has revealed the future of Saturday Kitchen amid he’s being lined up to replace Gregg Wallace on MasterChef
The celebrity chef, 51, admitted he may be moving onto new projects once his time on the BBC cooking show is up.
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Matt, who has presented the morning programme since since 2016, said he is hopeful for the show but admitted it will “stop” one day.
Speaking on Grilled by The Staff Canteen podcast, Matt said: “It’s going to stop at some point. I’m going to have to do something.”
When asked if he would return to the restaurant industry, he said: “Never say never. Maybe that’s the time to do it.”
He continued: “Every now and again I have to stop myself because you have to remember how hard that job is.
“It can be hugely rewarding, but it’s a proper hard graft.”
Despite the shift in cooking shows on social media platforms, Matt is hopeful that the BBC show will remain popular with viewers.
He previously shared: “We sort of carry on making the best show we can, people still love it, they’re still watching it, in their millions fortunately.
“So it’s still got a huge place but I think going forward, TV in general will have to address how it’s viewed.”
The chef and restaurateur is in advanced talks with the BBC One show’s producers and may also be in the running to host spin-off series MasterChef: The Professionals.
Beeb Saturday morning star Matt is set to step into the role alongside remaining judge John Torode.
It comes after Gregg Wallace announced in November he was stepping away from the job following multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him.
A TV insider said: “Matt rose to the challenge of coming into Saturday Kitchen after it was previously hosted by another big name in the world of food, James Martin.
“He managed the feat of making it his own and almost making viewers forget who his predecessor was — now Beeb bosses, and the show producers Banijay, will be hoping he can work the same magic on MasterChef.
“Nothing is set in stone, of course, and the result of investigations into Gregg’s behaviour have yet to fully conclude.
“But since MasterChef is such a huge show with a massive following, the Beeb are keen to have everything lined up ready.”
Food critic and writer Grace Dent has been standing in for Wallace as a judge on Celebrity MasterChef and it remains to be seen if she will continue in that role.
Father-of-two Matt has spent most of his life in South Wales where he had a restaurant, before giving it up to pursue his TV career.
He trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine, set up by Bake Off judge Prue Leith, and has worked in a string of top restaurants.
He was first seen on TV in Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped in 2012, and later took on the role of Saturday Kitchen host after filling in for Martin.
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