MasterChef presenter John Torode will no longer work on the show after an allegation he used an “extremely offensive racist term” was upheld in an independent investigation, the BBC has said.
The allegation, which involves racist language being used in the workplace in 2018 or 2019, was investigated and substantiated by law firm Lewis Silkin as part of a wider review into workplace culture at the BBC cooking programme.
Torode, 59, who has co-presented MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace for nearly two decades, identified himself on Monday as the subject of one of two standalone allegations upheld in the report.
BBC Takes Action
A BBC spokesperson said: “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.
The spokesperson added: “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.”
Torode’s Denial
In an Instagram statement posted on Monday, the Australian-born chef maintained his innocence whilst confirming his identity in the report.
“For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion,” Torode wrote.
However, he insisted: “I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.”
The celebrity chef added that he was “shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”
Details of the Allegation
According to Torode’s statement, the allegation relates to remarks allegedly made “sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation.”
He claimed that “the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.”
Despite this characterisation, Torode expressed shock at the finding, stating: “I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.”
Part of Wider Investigation
The allegation against Torode emerged as part of the Lewis Silkin investigation that primarily focused on his co-presenter Gregg Wallace.
The seven-month investigation, which interviewed 78 witnesses, substantiated 45 of 83 allegations against Wallace spanning from 2005 to 2024.
Wallace’s position on MasterChef was deemed “untenable” by both the BBC and production company Banijay UK, with the corporation confirming it has “no plans to work with him in future.
Reports of Resignation Request
The Sun newspaper reported that the BBC and Banijay had asked Torode to resign from MasterChef and claim mental health issues following the allegation, but he refused.
However, BBC insiders distanced themselves from that claim on Monday night, according to BBC News.
Unlike Wallace, whose departure from the show was confirmed, Torode’s immediate future with MasterChef had remained unclear until the BBC’s latest statement.
Two Decades on Screen
Torode and Wallace have been the faces of MasterChef since 2005, helping establish it as one of BBC One’s most successful formats.
Their partnership turned the cooking competition into a global phenomenon, spawning multiple international versions and spin-offs.
The findings have cast a shadow over the flagship culinary series at a time when workplace culture in the creative industries faces increasing scrutiny.
Wider Industry Impact
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the allegations in the Wallace report as “horrendous and appalling.
“This case highlights a wider issue and much more must be done to ensure that everyone working in the creative industries is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect,” she said.
The BBC acknowledged that “opportunities were missed to address this behaviour” and accepted that “more could and should have been done sooner.
Grace Dent Steps In
Writer and food critic Grace Dent has already been brought in to co-host Celebrity MasterChef following Wallace’s departure.
However, the BBC has yet to confirm whether Dent will permanently replace Wallace on the original series of MasterChef.
An as-yet-unaired season of MasterChef featuring Wallace, filmed in 2024, remains in limbo with no decision on whether it will ever be broadcast.
Investigation Findings
The Lewis Silkin report examined workplace culture and complaint handling procedures across MasterChef’s nearly two-decade run.
Alongside the Wallace allegations and Torode’s case, one other standalone allegation was substantiated, relating to swearing.
Patrick Holland, chief executive of Banijay UK, said the report provided “valuable insight to ensure that going forward everyone working on our productions feels safe and supported.”
The investigation has reignited debate about workplace standards in television production and the responsibility of broadcasters to maintain appropriate professional environments.
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Image Credit:
John Torode at MasterChef Live 2010 – Image by Ewan Munro, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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