Monica Galetti: I was rushed to hospital screaming

Beloved MasterChef judge and celebrated chef Monica Galetti opens up about the seismic shifts that transformed her world. Known for her sharp eye and steely precision alongside Michelle Roux Jr. at Le Gavroche, Monica reveals the demanding, breathless reality of rising through fine-dining kitchens – often sacrificing family milestones, battling gruelling hours, and hiding a high-stakes pregnancy. Now, reflecting on turning 50, Monica speaks candidly about the heartbreak of 2024: weathering immense personal loss, coping with sudden health battles including painful arthritis, and making the agonising choice to close the doors of her celebrated London restaurant, Mere. From confronting thoughtless prejudice in the boardroom to surviving total physical burnout, she shares how stepping into Christian faith, reconnecting with nature, and finding rhythm in the garden offered the profound healing she didn't know she needed. Video Chapters 00:00 – "A Blur, Passionate, Demanding": Surviving Act One 02:11 – Kitchens as Pirate Ships: Discipline, Hierarchy & Grit 04:18 – Roots & Resilience: Moving from Samoa to New Zealand 06:31 – Pacific Island Culture, Family Feasts & Barbecue Traditions 10:02 – Standing Your Ground: Handling Banter in Macho Kitchens 16:03 – The Le Gavroche Years: Michelle Roux Jr. & Radical Accountability 19:46 – Why Monica Can’t Watch The Bear 21:05 – Cooking for The Rock, Moana Cast & Bon Jovi 24:00 – Kitchen Nightmares: 20-Item Allergy Demands 26:15 – Entering the Second Act: Loss, Letting Go & Rediscovering Faith 30:11 – Confronting Arthritis: When Your Body Refuses to Work 35:16 – Gathering: A Cookbook Love Letter to Family & Heritage 39:09 – At-Home Feasts: Marmite Crumpets & The Creative Mind 42:15 – The Offensive Cutlery Test & Heightened Chef Palates 46:38 – Working 16-Hour Days Pregnant & Hiding Morning Sickness 55:32 – The Silent House: The Heartache of an Empty Nest 01:02:46 – The Painful Decision to Close Her Restaurant 01:10:05 – Hospitalised by Burnout: The High Cost of Survival Mode 01:15:02 – 18 Years on MasterChef: Spotting Star Alumni 01:18:52 – Finding Solace in the Garden & Country Living 01:25:11 – Monica’s Advice for Women Starting Again at Any Age From HELLO! magazine Producer: Millie Jackson Editor: Juliet Walsh Executive producer: Danielle Lawler Follow @hellomag on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices