Giorgio Locatelli may be a familiar face on television, but the celebrity chef has kept his personal life largely out of the spotlight
Restaurateur Giorgio Locatelli is joining Grace on Celebrity MasterChef(Image: BBC)
BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef is making a return to our TV screens tonight for its 21st series and viewers will be joined by a new judge.
Giorgio Locatelli will be joining Grace Dent as a new judge on Tuesday (August 18) as he replaces John Torode.
The esteemed chef and restaurateur, 63, previously said it’s a “real honour” to be joining the show, adding: “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.”
As Giorgio gets ready to appear on the BBC hit show, here is everything you need to know about his private life.
Who Is Giorgio Locatelli?
Giorgio is considered one of the foremost chefs in the UK(Image: 2024 Stefania D’Alessandro/GETTY)
With a career spanning four decades, Giorgio is considered one of the foremost chefs in the UK and one of the most recognised Italian chefs in the world.
He first earned a Michelin star in 1999, getting his second soon after in 2003. He has a love for food from an early age as his uncle ran the Michelin-starred La Cinzianella.
The budding chef followed in his family’s footsteps and worked in eateries in Italy and Switzerland before heading to England, initially landing a job at the prestigious Anton Edelmann at The Savoy.
Then, in 2002, he opened the doors to his own restaurant, Locanda Locatelli and quickly became one of London’s go-to celebrity hotspots, with stars including Kate Moss and Brad Pitt among its high-profile guests.
After 23 successful years, Locanda Locatelli closed in 2025, with the restaurant citing “reasons out of our control”.
Giorgio used to own a restaurant, which used to be one of London’s go-to celebrity hotspots(Image: Getty Images)
Giorgio soon embarked on his next venture with his wife, Plaxy, opening an eponymous restaurant in the recently refurbished Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery. The more relaxed venue focuses on Italian classics while offering a fresh chapter for the renowned chef.
His career has also taken him beyond the kitchen and into the world of TV presenting, having hosted Italy Unpacked and Sicily Unpacked, both for BBC Two.
Is Giorgio Locatelli married and does he have children?
When it comes to Giorgio’s personal life, the chef prefers to keep things firmly out of the spotlight, with relatively little known about his family away from his career.
However, he has been married to his wife, Plaxy, for more than 20 years. The couple live in Camden, north London, with their children, Margherita, known as Dita, and Jack, Plaxy’s son from a previous relationship.
Celebrity MasterChef returns Tuesday, August 18 from 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Dining and Cooking