MasterChef masterminds John Torode and Gregg Wallace talk about the new series

“After you’ve had sea bass with artichokes, followed by chocolate mousse, followed by a rack of lamb with curry sauce on top of it – which does happen quite frequently – if you think about it too much, then you start to feel unwell,” admits John, 52.

“There are certain days when you feel like the cocktail shaker, where you shouldn’t have put the cream in with the tequila, but otherwise it’s not too bad.”

John turns to his co-host, Gregg Wallace, sitting next to him, and expresses astonishment at the amount of food Wallace can put away without suffering indigestion.

“He has the constitution of an ox,” teases John. “I don’t eat after filming, but I’ve watched him go out to Le Gavroche and eat three courses. How do you do that?! You’re a food hero!”

We’re meeting the MasterChef judges in the show’s production offices in west London, where the men are promoting the upcoming 14th series of the cook-off. 

John and Gregg seem at ease in each other’s company, with jokes and banter, though they admit they frequently disagree over MasterChef contestants. Gregg insists that John always wins the arguments.

The pair’s relationship is at the heart of MasterChef, the hit cookery show they’ve co-judged since 2005, and they admit they are looking forward to welcoming another 56 contestants for the brand new series. 

Seven contestants compete in the first episode, their professions ranging from cathedral organist to fitness instructor, all trying to impress with their best dishes.

Their first round is the Market Challenge, from which contestants choose ingredients from a stall stocked full of produce and cook one dish, after which three contestants are sent home. The remaining four showcase their skills via a two-course menu that they serve to three former MasterChef finalists as well as John and Gregg.

Then, another contestant is evicted and the remaining three go through. 

Although there are the inevitable clangers and missteps along the way, Gregg and John say the standard of cooking goes up year on year.

“Contestants have to raise their game, so we’re getting more and more knowledgeable, skilful cooks each year,” says Gregg. 

MasterChef starts on Monday, 9pm, BBC1.