Former MasterChef judge John Torode reportedly learned of his fate via the BBC News website after the corporation and Bandijay released a statement
John Torode reportedly learned of the end of his MasterChef career through the BBC News website. The TV chef recently claimed he was never contacted by the BBC or MasterChef’s production company about their decision not to renew his contract on the cooking programme he’s been part of for 20 years.
Last night, Torode confirmed he was the person alleged to have used racist language amid an investigation into his former co-star Gregg Wallace’s behaviour. Torode claimed he had no memory of making the comment and denies it ever happened, but the BBC and Banijay both released statements on the situation as they confirmed he was axed from the programme.
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Banijay said that they took “this matter incredibly seriously” as they detailed the “highly offensive racist language”. The 59-year-old soon took to his Instagram page to claim they never reached out to him about his contract.
In a statement shared on social media, he claimed: “Although I haven’t heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay – I am seeing and reading that I’ve been “sacked” from MasterChef and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I’m accused of.
“The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong.
“I’d hoped that I’d have some say in my exit from a show I’ve worked on since its relaunch in 2005, but events in last few days seem to have prevented that.”
And now, a source claim Torode was “blindsided” by the news and learned of his fate through the BBC News website.
“John’s agent received a call 11 minutes before the statements went out and hadn’t had a chance to call him,” an insider claimed to The Sun. “He read about it on the BBC News website.”
The Mirror have reached out to his reps for comment.
Speaking of their decision to axe Torode, the BBC said on Tuesday: “John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. This allegation, which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace, was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.
“He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
“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.”
BBC director-general Tim Davie had earlier condemned the “serious racist term” the Australian-born presenter was alleged to have used, after it was announced his contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.
Torode began presenting the BBC cooking contest alongside Gregg Wallace in 2005.
On Monday night, Torode confirmed Torode was the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into Wallace’s behaviour while filming the programme over 19 years.
In 2022, Torode was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to food and charity.
He became a familiar face to TV audiences in 1996 as the resident chef on ITV’s This Morning, before joining MasterChef alongside Wallace when it was known as MasterChef Goes Large.
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