Anna Haugh on MasterChef 2026: Meet Grace Dent's new on-screen TV partner, from working with Gordon Ramsay to where you can visit her restaurants
This isn't her first time in the MasterChef judging roleMasterChef is back on our TV screens, but everything is completely different for regular viewers, as two new hosts step in – but who is Irish chef Anna Haugh?
Anna Haugh is the new co-host of MasterChef, alongside Grace Dent. The women step in to replace Gregg Wallace and John Torode, who were both axed following misconduct investigations.
From rubbing shoulders with Gordon Ramsay to creating her own empire, here is everything you need to know about Celebrity MasterChef judge, Anna Haugh.
Who is Anna Haugh? How old is she?
Irish chef, Anna Haugh was born on November 6, 1980, making her 45 years old. She is the youngest of four children, and seemingly comes from a food loving family.
Anna even credits her parents love for food as the inspiration for her work.
She told The Gloss: “My mother cooked everything from scratch for the four of us children, while my dad took me to street markets, butchers and fishmongers for the raw ingredients.
“My mother thought she was ‘just’ making food for us, but looking back, I sense the warm embrace of feeling truly loved and nurtured.”
Where was MasterChef host Anna Haugh born? And where did she train?
Anna was born in Dublin, growing up in the suburb of Tallaght. She attended the Presentation Secondary School in Terenure.
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But Anna went on to train on a professional cookery course at the TU Dublin School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology. She then went on to launch her career in the city.
However, she moved to London to pursue her culinary dreams, and worked alongside several top chefs, including Philip Howard and Shane Osborn. Anna also was head chef at Gordon Ramsay’s now-closed London House restaurant. She also worked with Gualterio Marchesi in Paris.
Speaking about her time working with Gordon Ramsay, Anna revealed: “It was my first time to really be part of a group, and it was a fantastic experience. The people and talent that I met while working there was immense.”
Anna Haugh’s restaurant location
Currently, Anna is the executive head chef and owner of Myrtle Restaurant in Chelsea. The restaurant is a Modern European spot with a strong Irish twist, keeping Anna connected to her roots.
Speaking about her restaurant, Anna told The Gloss: “The name was inspired by legendary Irish chef Myrtle Allen, founder of famous restaurant and food hub Ballymaloe House in Cork, which has done so much for Irish food.”
Anna admitted that she hoped her restaurant would “remind people of childhood flavours” and that she tried to bring in her mother’s classic recipes to show “what modern Irish cooking really is”.
The same year that she opened the restaurant, Anna won Best International Chef award at the Food and Wine Ireland awards.
Myrtle Restaurant was awarded three AA Rosettes in 2021, and quickly became one of the most loved dining places in Chelsea.
In 2024, Anna decided to expand. She opened The Wee Sister Wine Bar, which is actually located right next door to her restaurant.
Was Anna Haugh previously on MasterChef? What other shows has she been on?
For devoted MasterChef fans, they may actually recognise Anna. Back in 2022, she replaced Monica Galetti as a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals. So, this is not her first time hosting the show, just a different version.
MasterChef actually isn’t the first TV show Anna has appeared on, popping up on numerous cooking programmes over the years.
Between 2017 and 2018, Anna co-hosted two seasons of BBC’s Royal Recipes alongside Michael Buerk. She has also become a well-known face on Saturday Kitchen, and a resident chef on Morning Live.
In 2020, Anna won an episode of Channel 4’s Snackmasters, beating Michelin-star chef Aktar Islam. Then between 2021 and 2022, she was one of the main chefs on BBC’s Ready Steady Cook.
Most recently, in 2025, Anna fronted her own 15-part BBC series in Northern Ireland, Anna Haugh’s Big Irish Food Tour.
Is Anna married and does she have children?
At the moment, Anna is not married. However she was previously wed, for over a decade. However, she has chosen to keep details on their relationship private.
But in 2021, Anna and her former partner, Richard Elwell, welcomed son Oisin Ronnie Elwell after a battle with IVF.
Speaking to RTE, Anna admitted: “He terrorises me. I’ll get a cookbook, he’ll pick the dish. I will make it identical to the picture, even down to the type of bowl it’s baked in. But he’ll be like ‘Nah!’ It’s almost like being gaslighted by your four-year-old.
“I raised him on my lap, so he ate everything I did. But one day, he turned into that child who only eats pasta with olive oil and Parmesan or chicken, mashed and peas. But he is good at eating fruit and veg.”
Why is Anna Haugh on MasterChef? And when?
For the brand-new series of MasterChef which has just started, Anna Haugh will be the new judge, alongside Grace Dent.
They are taking over following the scandals that led to previous judges, Gregg Wallace and John Torode, getting axed.
Speaking to The Guardian about the new role, Anna admitted she didn’t feel like they needed to “save” the show.
She said: “The team behind the show are absolutely superb. Grace and I are on camera, but there is a whole brigade of people lifting us up, taking care of us, encouraging us to be the best version of ourselves. Nobody wanted us to be anything but authentic.”
Anna Haugh working with Grace Dent
While this is the first time Anna and Grace have worked together, the pair already knew each other from working in the same industry. But it seems the show has brought them quite close.
Speaking about working with Grace, Anna admitted: “I think people expect her to be strict and intimidating, and me to be soft and cuddly.” She also explained their relationship “took a much closer turn” because they were together “all the time”.
Read more: Celebrity MasterChef 2026: I’m A Celebrity winner and Big Brother legend join rumoured line-up
