Marcus Wareing opens up about ‘tough times’ filming MasterChef: The Professionals after his dad’s death (Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeCelebrating a decade on MasterChef: The Professionals, Marcus Wareing has shared his poignant journey through this landmark year, which was marred by personal loss. “My dad had passed away, in March [before filming],” the 54 year old chef revealed. “And I had some really tough times where I needed help.” In these challenging moments, he found support from his MasterChef family. “I remember Monica’s mum had passed away in the first year that I started – now this is my 10th year and it was my dad. I remember how tough it was for her to step up to the plate and do her job. It’s such a difficult time and it was the same for me. Monica, Gregg [Wallace] and [executive producer] David Ambler were there to help. It’s not an easy time when someone so close to you, who champions you doing this job, is not there.”
Marcus revealed that his two co-stars – Monica Galetti and Gregg Wallace – were there to support him
(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
Despite the heartache, returning to the show’s kitchen was still “an absolute honour” for Marcus, especially after witnessing what he describes as the best skills test of the series. “When someone listens to what they’ve been asked to do, doesn’t try to impress you too much but cooks a super dish, it just puts a big smile on your face and you can’t wait to see what they do next,” he shares with a sense of pride. Monica gushed, “Marcus and I get so giddy when we see a couple of chefs walk through those doors, under that pressure, and deliver a great skills test. We’re just beaming from ear to ear when it happens.” The 17th series of this MasterChef spin-off will welcome 32 professionals into the BBC kitchen to impress Marcus, Monica, fellow judge Gregg and other guests such as Grace Dent, Jay Rayner and Tom Kerridge. While some contestants wowed with their inventive dishes, others served up food combinations that left Marcus and Monica less than impressed. “I was certain that I didn’t like pork scratchings in dessert,” Monica giggled. “It wasn’t just once but numerous times. It kept coming back. In chocolate, ice cream… I love pork scratchings and I like desserts, but not together.”
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Marcus Wareing has admitted that filming MasterChef: The Professionals proved to be ‘really tough’ after his dad’s death
(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
Marcus chimed in, “For me, it was prawn and peach caramel tea. But also, one I really didn’t like was pigeon with lavender. Lavender is a beautiful flower and I absolutely adore it, but it’s so floral. With the pigeon, it didn’t work at all for me.” The kitchen mayhem isn’t just about culinary calamities, it seems. “There’s a lot of overcooked stuff. This year, the biggest disasters that kept popping up were things not setting,” Marcus revealed. He goes on to share a bit of behind-the-scenes advice, “We just try to give the chefs a step back, a nod and say, ‘Just take a breather.’” Monica chimed in about their roles as judges being more than critics; they’re there to encourage. “There are some situations in this series where someone’s cooking has gone off and they’ve been on the verge of breaking down,” she shared “It’s part of our job to keep them going, to support them in that way, to make sure they deliver something at the end of the day. We’re not jumping in, taking their apron off and doing the cooking for them, but we calm them down and remind them that they do know what they’re doing.” The journey to becoming a television chef has been transformative for Marcus, especially after Monica “championed” him for his spot on the show when Michel Roux Jr departed in 2014. Delving into his past persona, Marcus revealed, “When I was asked to do MasterChef, I had my head down in the kitchen, running businesses, I was fiery, aggressive, energised and I’d talk to chefs with a real sense of discipline.”
Marcus revealed that he wasn’t a fan of lavender and pigeon, while Monica couldn’t stand pork scratching in desserts
(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
However, he received golden nuggets of advice which not only helped him in front of the camera but also improved his communication back in his restaurants: “I was given two bits of advice – smile and don’t swear. I think it made me a better communicator with my chefs because you can’t make a TV show if you’re miserable all day long and raising your voice. It allowed me to go back to my kitchens and verbalise what I’m looking for in a different manner with a sense of calm respect.” Monica Galetti, the culinary maestro from MasterChef: The Professionals, has opened up about her evolving kitchen demeanor. “Everyone is from different backgrounds with different levels of skill. I’ve had to adjust and realise that some chefs have less experience than others,” she shared. “You have to be much more patient.” Despite their TV fame, Monica and fellow chef Marcus Wareing prefer quality family time over screen time during meals. Monica, who shares her home life with daughter Anais, 18, and husband David Galetti, treasures the moments around the dinner table. “I travel a lot so when I am home, mealtimes are really important. I find out what our daughter has been up to that day and the same with the hubby. We talk.”
Monica Galetti with her daughter Anais and husband David
(Image: INSTAGRAM)
Marcus, father to Jake, 23, Archie, 20, and Jessie, 17, with his wife Jane, echoes Monica’s sentiments. “I agree with Mon, it’s family time. It’s interesting because, as a chef, you cook the same, you chop the same, you fry the same, whether you’re in a kitchen or at home – and you bring that feeling home. And to do that, you need to sit at the table to enjoy it rather than sitting in front of the telly.” Catch the latest culinary battles on MasterChef: The Professionals, airing Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnMasterchef
