Locatelli is no stranger to the MasterChef kitchen, having featured as a judge on MasterChef Italia since 2018.
Locatelli is best known for his Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli restaurant in Marylebone, which closed in January after 23 years of trading.
Shortly after the closure, it was announced that he and his wife, Plaxy, would partner with contract caterer Searcys to launch two hospitality concepts at London’s National Gallery.
Locatelli and Bar Giorgio are located within the Sainsbury Wing of the world-famous art gallery, just north of Trafalgar Square.
“Hosting Celebrity MasterChef alongside Grace is a real honour. I can’t wait for you to see what our celebrity contestants bring to the kitchen, as we are really putting their culinary skills to the test in this series,” Locatelli says of his appointment.
Leon Wilson, CEO of Shine TV and its sister production company Zeppotron, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Giorgio onboard. He is a genuinely world-class superstar chef and it’s a huge coup to have signed him up. With his signature charm, generosity and energy, Giorgio is perfect for Celebrity MasterChef and he’ll be a real treat for viewers.”
Celebrity MasterChef will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this summer, with the celebrity line-up yet to be announced.