Marcus Wareing breaks his silence on quitting BBC cookery show with Gordon Ramsay as he reflects on the 'priceless' reaction of his former nemesis after their 16-year feud

Marcus Wareing has broken his silence on quitting the BBC cooking show with Gordon Ramsay.The MasterChef judge had been set to host a new BBC cooking show, being made by Gordon's production company Studio Ramsay, having finally called an end to their 16-year feud to work together.But in August, it was announced that Marcus had pulled out after he allegedly told producers that he wanted no part of the programme. Now, after months of speculation over why he quit the show, the chef has set the record straight.In a new interview, he revealed that he simply felt like he wasn't the right candidate to present the show.Marcus said: 'It was hard to send a message to Gordon and say, 'Look, I just don't feel comfortable.' And he was brilliant.' Marcus Wareing has broken his silence on quitting the BBC cooking show with Gordon Ramsay The MasterChef judge had been set to host a new BBC cooking show, being made by Gordon's production company Studio Ramsay, having finally called an end to their 16-year feud to work together (Marcus and Gordon pictured last year)He told The Times: 'He was like, 'Marcus, seriously, mate, do not worry.' His reaction was priceless for me. It reminded me of the olden days when you'd reach out and think, 'Am I going to really f***ing piss Gordon off again?' I really didn't want to go down that road again and I felt really sh*t. 'But I didn't feel I could do it justice and I think, in our older age now, it's good to be honest.'Marcus previously told of his excitement for the project, announcing last year: 'This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside Gordon again.'It's been many years since we last shared a kitchen, and I can't wait to get started.'It comes after Gordon and Marcus publicly called an end to their bitter feud, having spent nearly two decades bumping heads, with Marcus even saying he hoped he would never have to speak to Ramsay 'for the rest of my life'.But in 2025, the chefs buried the hatchet, reuniting for an amicable make-up dinner with both stars posting a photograph of them together in a mystery kitchen on social media.The chefs worked together for 15 years, with Marcus considered Gordon's protégé after working as sous chef at his Aubergine restaurant.They were once so close that Gordon was best man at Marcus's wedding and is godfather to his eldest child. The pair spent nearly two decades bumping heads, with Marcus even saying he hoped he would never have to speak to Ramsay 'for the rest of my life'In 1999, they opened a joint venture, Pétrus, with Marcus as head chef. It earned two Michelin stars but was to be the undoing of their friendship.In 2008, Marcus wanted to go solo and take over the lease at London's Berkeley Hotel, sparking a legal fight. In the end, Gordon kept the Pétrus name and Marcus opened his own place at The Berkeley.Marcus once admitted: 'It was me who started it. I picked a fight. I no longer wanted to be kept in a corner, so I spoke up. And, well, it got nasty.'He retired from the restaurant game last year, but remains a judge on BBC's MasterChef: The Professionals.He previously detailed the spat during an interview with Weekend Magazine in 2011, explaining: 'Gordon verbally kicked the s*** out of you. Then he would buy you a beer. He put me through mental torture.'I'd be first in in the morning, and I'd lock up at night. All day, there'd be Gordon being Gordon. It's a wonder we all survived.'The chef added that the pair came close to physical violence, adding: 'B***dy close. Once, about six months before we finished, he came into the kitchen on a Saturday night. We had a conversation.'In 2023, Marcus said their feud was 'the best thing that ever happened to them'.He admitted that his row with Gordon proved to be the making of them both, telling the Daily Mail's Richard Eden it pushed him to find 'another ambition'.The father of three said: ‘It was the best thing that ever happened to both of us.'I wanted to be in his shoes and I can’t be in his shoes — they’re too big.'I knew I couldn’t fill them and I think I had another ambition and I had another goal. So I had to try.’