Australian-born chef John Torode has been at the helm of MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace for 20 years – and the duo have shared some iconic moments.
The 59-year-old, who was born in Sydney in 1965, was a resident chef on This Morning before he achieved widespread fame with Wallace on the BBC show.
But his contract on MasterChef will not be renewed after he 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 the alleged behaviour of his co-presenter Wallace.
The report, commissioned by production company Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone claims against other people, including one for using ‘extremely offensive’ racist language.
Torode then confirmed he was the subject of the allegation but had ‘no recollection of the incident’ and was ‘shocked and saddened’ by the allegation.
Uncensored swearing (Masterchef, 2022)
Masterchef viewers were left shocked during an episode in April 2022 when Torode swore at contestant Pookie Tredell – uncensored – before the 9pm watershed.
Torode blasted the Birmingham-based retired beauty salon owner for dropping teammates ‘in the s***’ when he accused them of not communicating.
The host was concerned that Pookie and her teammates were not talking to each other properly despite having to present their food at the same time to be served.
John Torode swore at contestant Pookie Tredell before the watershed on Masterchef in 2022
‘We’ve got three minutes and a half left,’ Pookie shouted before approaching Torode with her dish – but she was quickly forced to go back to her work station.
Torode told her: ‘Pookie, you need to talk to them. Go back and tell them you put their plate on the pass and tell them.
‘Because you’ve just done what’s commonly known as dropped them in the s***.’
Torode explained that although Pookie presented her dish, he could not serve the table because the dishes from her teammates were not ready.
Unexpected scotch bonnet chillis (Masterchef, 2017)
Torode got the shock of his life during an episode in 2017 when he ate a dish by a contestant without knowing it contained scotch bonnet chillis.
As he eyes began to water, he asked amateur chef Lynell: ‘You’ve got scotch bonnet chillis in there?’ She replied: ‘Yes, I like pepper.’
Torode, whose voice was starting to crack, then said: ‘You like pepper alright.’ Lynell apologised with a laugh, telling him: ‘Sorry, I should have warned you.’
John Torode got a surprise during Masterchef in 2017 when he ate scotch bonnet chillis
Contestant Lynell smiled during the incident and told Torode: ‘Sorry, I should have warned you’
In another clip from the same series, contestant Dr Saliha Mahmood Ahmed – who later won – was shown to be taking her time during a challenge.
Torode told the doctor: ‘You’re very calm under pressure, aren’t you?’ She replied: ‘I have to be.’ Wallace then joked: ‘Lots of patience’ – to which Torode rolled his eyes.
During the same series, Torode rolled his eyes when Wallace made a joke about a doctor
Wallace joked that Masterchef contestant Dr Saliha Mahmood Ahmed had ‘lots of patients’
Sexual joke to Cat Deeley (This Morning, 2024)
Torode came under fire for making a sexual joke about a sausage to Cat Deeley live on This Morning last October.
The comment was ill-timed because it came after Wallace denied claims that he made inappropriate sexual comments to a female staffer.
Torode was plating up a dish of toad in the hole, telling host Deeley:: ‘I never thought I’d say to Cat Deeley, ‘Here’s a little sausage for you darling’.”
Deeley tapped him on the back and replied: ‘Oh I like it, thank you,’ before she turned to make a face at the camera.
But viewers took to social media to point out the unfortunate timing of Torode’s comment in the light of the scandal affecting his co-presenter.
John Torode made a sexual sausage joke while plating up a dish of toad in the hole last October
Cat Deeley turned to make a face at the camera after Torode’s joke during ITV’s This Morning
‘Experimental’ innuendo (Masterchef, 2012)
Torode appeared to get an unexpected insight into a contestant’s sexual life during an episode of Masterchef back in 2012.
The contestant told him: ‘I’m actually cooking this because it tastes nice, it’s really nice.’
Torode replied: ‘Would you consider yourself a conservative cook or an experimental cook?’
She then said: ‘I’m experimental at home with my husband’ – before beginning to laugh.
Torode told her: ‘I’m not asking what you do at home’ – but she interjected: ‘No, no, no, cooking wise!’, and they both laughed.
A contestant said: ‘I’m experimental at home with my husband’ – before beginning to laugh
Torode told her: ‘I’m not asking what you do at home’ and they laughed about the innuendo
Disagreeing with Wallace (Celebrity MasterChef, 2009)
Tensions boiled over between Torode and Wallace on an episode of Celebrity MasterChef in 2009 when they had to choose a quarter-finalist from Claire Richards, Sean Wilson and Kaye Adams.
Torode said: ‘Claire is just getting better and better and better.’
But Wallace replied: ‘Oh come on John look, her cheesecake was lovely but that scallop dish [by Wilson] was absolutely superb, top drawer cooking. I just really, really want to see more of his dishes.’
Torode then told him: ‘OK, we don’t agree. There has to be a decision.’ And Wallace said: ‘It’s one of those nights isn’t it, it’s one of those nights.’
They eventually chose Richards to go through.
Tensions boiled over between Torode and Wallace on Celebrity Masterchef in 2009
Wallace appeared frustrated with Torode who wanted contestant Claire Richards to go through
‘Still love each other’ (This Morning, 2018)
During an appearance on This Morning, Wallace gave an awkward smirk when it was suggested that the duo ‘still love each other’ after 14 years of working together.
Wallace and Torode were talking during the ITV programme in March 2018 about how they react to tasting food they do not like while filming Masterchef.
Wallace said: ‘I don’t ever want to humiliate somebody by spitting their food out. What I will say is ‘look, I find you sticking that chocolate bar up the back end of a duck quite challenging’.
Wallace pulled a smirk and gestured towards Torode on This Morning in 2018 when it was suggested that the duo ‘still love each other’ after 14 years of working together
Torode then interjected: ‘For the duck.’
Wallace continued: ‘And it’s not something I may want to taste again.’
Host Ruth Langsford, alongside Eamonn Holmes, then said: ‘But the thing is, it seems to me after 14 years that you still love it, and you still love each other.’
Wallace then pulled a smirk, gestured towards Torode and then clapped his hands – as Torode said: ‘Yeah, love it, absolutely love it.’
Over the years there have been rumours that the two men did not get along off-screen, although Wallace has previously said they are friendly.
