After Gregg Wallace was sensationally dropped by MasterChef last week, his former John Torode talking about his ‘behavioural’ issues
John Torode and Gregg Wallace’s time on MasterChef has fallen under scrutiny in the last 24 hours with a series of bombshell allegations levelled at the presenters.
A report into Gregg’s conduct on the BBC One show revealed that claims about him using sexual slurs, making unwelcome physical contact and being in a state of undress had been upheld following an investigation. Gregg said he was ‘deeply sorry’ for any distress caused but warned he ‘would not be the last’ of stars being held to account.
Just hours later, his MasterChef co-judge John Torode spoke out to reveal that an allegation that he used racist language had been upheld in the report. John decided to out himself though he was not initially named.
Torode said he had ‘no recollection of the incident’ and ‘did not believe that it happened’, but wanted to admit his part in the allegations ‘for the sake of transparency.’
The future of the hit BBC cooking show is now in doubt, with the BBC admitting yesterday no decisions have been made about future series.
After Gregg was first accused of misconduct, John kept silent on the allegations. When Gregg later stepped down, John spoke out only to say that he ‘loved being a part of the show’ and would ‘continue to be a part of it.’
His reaction supported his previous comments about not always seeing eye to eye with his co-star. Speaking to the Mirror in 2017, John stated that he was “never friends” with Gregg.
During an appearance on the Desert Island Dishes podcast in 2023, john admitted they got on but had an unconventional relationship. He said: “He’s a friend, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t go to the pub with him, We’ve both not been to each other’s houses… we just don’t do it.”
John further explained that if he visited Gregg, he “wouldn’t know where to put him,” due to his severe OCD. He added: “He says he’s CDO because he wants it in the right order – that’s one of his favourite jokes.”
John added that they have “great respect for each other,” which has been crucial in maintaining their professional partnership for over two decades.
However, when the idea of collaborating on screen was proposed, John initially had his doubts. Speaking to The Independent, he said: “In 2005 I was asked to go to an interview about some cooking show and Karen Ross, the boss at Shine, the production company involved, said: ‘I’d love you to do it, but I need to audition people to partner you with.’ I had everyone from AA Gill to Oliver Peyton,” he remembered.
“One day she asked, ‘Do you know a guy called Gregg Wallace?’ I had reservations, as Gregg was large, boisterous and noisy. Actually, nothing has changed, except no one anticipated the success the show would have.”
He also mentioned that over MasterChef’s lengthy history, there have been moments of tension between them: “We used to argue about stuff, as we’re both so opinionated. In the first series it was over Thomasina Miers who went on to win that series.”
“Gregg said, ‘There’s no way I want her.’ Then in the second round he said, ‘I want her.’ And I said, ‘You git, how can you despise someone one day then like them?'”
John further revealed that Gregg had peculiar rules when it comes to sharing a dressing room, and told him: “Don’t put anything on my table, don’t touch my stuff and stay on the left-hand side of the room until lunch.”
He expressed that while he would have been open to turning their professional relationship into a friendship, he doesn’t believe Gregg would be receptive to that: “It’s frustrating, as I’m open to it, but I don’t feel Gregg is.”
Last night, John spoke out to reveal the allegation against himself in the MasterChef scandal.
In a statement posted on his Instagram page, Torode elaborated on the allegations against him but insisted that he had “no recollection of the incident” and said he “did not believe that it happened”.
He commented: “Following publication of the executive summary of the investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.
“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.
“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.”