John Torode Sacked From MasterChef Following Racist Language Allegation
Breaking news has emerged that John Torode has been dismissed from his long-standing role as MasterChef presenter after allegations of racist language were substantiated in an independent investigation.
[John Torode holding medal – AI Generated Image]
The Shocking Dismissal
John Torode, who co-hosted MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace for nearly two decades, has been sacked from the BBC cooking show following a formal investigation that upheld allegations of racist language use. The dismissal comes just 24 hours after his co-presenter Wallace was also fired from the programme following separate misconduct allegations.
The BBC confirmed that Torode’s contract would not be renewed after an independent investigation led by law firm Lewis Silkin substantiated an allegation involving “an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace”. The investigation was originally commissioned to examine allegations against Wallace but uncovered additional complaints against other individuals, including Torode.
Torode’s Response and Denial
In a statement posted on Instagram on Monday evening, Torode confirmed he was the subject of the racist language allegation but maintained his innocence. The 59-year-old Australian-British chef stated:
“For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.”
Torode firmly denied the allegations, saying: “I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence”.
The BBC’s Zero-Tolerance Stance
The BBC and production company Banijay UK took swift action following the investigation’s findings. A BBC spokesperson stated: “The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed”.
Banijay UK echoed this stance, with a spokesperson saying: “This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint. Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef”.
Government Condemnation
The allegations have drawn criticism from the highest levels of government. Downing Street condemned the racist language allegation, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman stating: “When it comes to racism, it clearly has no place at the BBC or anywhere in society, and we utterly condemn any instances of racist language or abuse in the strongest possible terms”.
Torode’s Distinguished Career
John Torode’s dismissal marks the end of a remarkable 20-year tenure on MasterChef and a distinguished culinary career spanning over four decades. Born in Melbourne in 1965, Torode began his cooking career at age 16 before moving to the UK in 1991. He joined the prestigious Conran Group, working at renowned establishments including Le Pont de la Tour and Quaglino’s, where he first met his future co-presenter Gregg Wallace.
Torode became a household name through his regular appearances on ITV’s This Morning from 1996 to 2000. His success led to the ownership of successful restaurants including Smiths of Smithfield and The Luxe, which achieved a combined turnover of £9.2 million. He was awarded an MBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to food and charity.
[John Torode Headshot – AI Generated Image]
The Wallace Connection
The investigation that led to Torode’s dismissal was originally commissioned to examine allegations against his co-presenter Gregg Wallace. The Lewis Silkin investigation, which ran for seven months, heard 83 allegations against Wallace from 41 complainants, substantiating 45 of them. The majority of upheld allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, with one allegation of unwanted physical contact also substantiated.
Wallace stepped back from MasterChef in November 2024 after BBC News reported allegations of inappropriate sexual comments spanning a 17-year period. His dismissal was confirmed last week, with the BBC stating it had “no plans to work with him in future”.
The Future of MasterChef
The dual departure of both long-standing presenters has cast uncertainty over the future of the beloved cooking competition. Food critic Grace Dent has already been confirmed as Wallace’s replacement for Celebrity MasterChef, and reports suggest she may be offered the role permanently across all MasterChef series.
BBC Director General Tim Davie addressed the show’s future in the corporation’s annual report, stating: “MasterChef absolutely can survive and prosper, but we’ve got to make sure we’re in the right place in terms of the culture of the show”. The show is relocating to new studios in Birmingham, marking a fresh start for the programme.
Unaired Series Controversy
The scandal has created a significant dilemma for the BBC regarding an unaired series of MasterChef filmed in 2024 featuring both Wallace and Torode. The corporation has stated it has not made a final decision on whether to broadcast the series, with BBC Director General Tim Davie calling it a “difficult decision” that requires careful consideration.
The decision is complicated by the need to balance respect for the allegations’ victims with the interests of the amateur contestants who participated in the series. Some former MasterChef employees have stated that airing the series would show “a real lack of respect” for those affected by the allegations.
Industry Impact
The MasterChef scandals have highlighted broader issues within the television industry regarding workplace behaviour and safeguarding. The BBC has acknowledged that “opportunities were missed to address this behaviour” and accepted that “more could and should have been done sooner”.
The investigation revealed that between 2005 and 2024, six complaints were raised with Banijay UK and six with the BBC regarding Wallace’s behaviour, with more formal action taken in 2015 and 2017. The report noted that “escalation procedures were not as robust as they should have been” in earlier years.
Conclusion
John Torode’s dismissal from MasterChef represents a dramatic fall from grace for one of British television’s most recognisable culinary figures. His 20-year partnership with Gregg Wallace, which helped establish MasterChef as one of the world’s most successful cooking shows, has ended in scandal and controversy.
The allegations and subsequent dismissals have fundamentally changed the landscape of British television cooking shows, prompting serious questions about workplace culture and the protection of staff and contributors. As MasterChef attempts to rebuild with new presenters and a fresh start in Birmingham, the legacy of this scandal will likely influence how the industry approaches such issues in the future.
The BBC’s zero-tolerance approach to racist language, while controversial given Torode’s denials, sends a clear message about acceptable workplace behaviour. However, the human cost of these revelations—for both the alleged victims and those accused—serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining professional standards in all workplace environments.
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