MasterChef has begun casting for its next series as the BBC ploughs on after the sacking of Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
The cooking show has been at the centre of scandal after Gregg was dismissed as a presenter after more than 40 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation.
Australian-born chef John, 59, also lost his job after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have ‘absolutely no recollection’ of.
But despite the chaos surrounding the show, MasterChef is forging ahead with a new series.
Asking cooking hopefuls to apply, production company Banijay wrote: ‘For over 20 years we have been putting Britain’s best food talents through their paces.
‘Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this.’
MasterChef has begun casting for its next series as the BBC ploughed on after the sacking of Gregg Wallace and John Torode (Gregg Wallace seen in 2024)
Australian-born chef John, 59, also lost his job after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have ‘absolutely no recollection’ of
The website added: ‘Whether you’re an amateur cook looking to showcase your home-taught skills or a professional chef wanting to take your career to the next level you can apply for a UK MasterChef series below.’
According to The Sun, Banijay said the decision to cast for a new series came ‘after consultation with the contestants’.
It comes after Gregg Wallace insisted that he is done with TV and the BBC before making a sensational claim that he was ‘groped’ during his time on MasterChef as he speaks out following his sacking from the show.
The TV personality, 60, said in an interview, how he himself faced sexual harassment from a host of women ‘on a regular basis’ as he hit out at the broadcaster over their ‘complaints procedure’.
Speaking to The Sun, Gregg said: ‘The whole complaints procedure needs to be readdressed – there are huge problems with it as things stand. Being on MasterChef was brilliant but I had so many bad experiences on that show too.
‘Had I wanted to raise any complaints, I’d have had the decency to speak to that person directly. Privately, not publicly. My God, can you imagine the complaints I could have made? Have you got any idea of the sexual references made to me on a daily basis?
‘How many times I’ve been touched by women wanting a selfie? How many times I’ve been groped? How many times suggestive comments have been made to me? How many female contestants have said inappropriate things on MasterChef?’
Gregg added that the thought of complaining wouldn’t even ‘cross my mind’, noting that he wasn’t suggesting that groping was ‘right’, but it was ‘happening to me on a regular basis.’
Asking cooking hopefuls to apply, production company Banijay wrote: ‘For over 20 years we have been putting Britain’s best food talents through their paces’
According to The Sun, Banjay said the decision to cast for a new series came ‘after consultation with the contestants’ (Seen with ex co-host John)
It comes after Gregg Wallace insisted that he is done with TV and the BBC before making a sensational claim that he was ‘groped’
The disgraced TV star went on to that he was often ‘shouted at and bullied’, claiming contestants had a perceived notion that presenters were ‘god-like’ and adding that he doesn’t wish for anyone to be ‘dragged through’ what he has.
MailOnline have contacted BBC representatives for comment.
Meanwhile, Gregg, who has been reported to have been banned from working at the BBC, told how he washed his hands of both the TV industry and the BBC having been ‘hurt’ by recent events.
He noted he didn’t want ‘anything to do with’ telly or the broadcaster, before acknowledging that his TV career is now over.
When asked if he will watch the upcoming series of MasterChef, he replied with a defiant ‘No, no, no, no’, stating that he’s ‘pleased’ for the contestants on the show as it was never really about former co-star John Torode and himself.
He added that he ‘didn’t care’ who hosted the show next, insisting that MasterChef would be ‘absolutely fine’ without himself and John at the helm.
Gregg’s comments come after it was revealed that the BBC would air its amateur 2025 series of MasterChef.
In the nine months since the hit BBC programme finished filming last Autumn there have been questions over whether it would ever be broadcast following allegations of inappropriate behaviour against presenters Gregg and John.
Gregg added that the thought of complaining wouldn’t even ‘cross my mind’, noting that he wasn’t suggesting that groping was ‘right’, but it was ‘happening to me on a regular basis
Meanwhile, Gregg, who has been reported to have been banned from working at the BBC , told how he washed his hands of both the TV industry and the BBC having been ‘hurt’ by recent events
Now the corporation has revealed that the amateur series of MasterChef filmed last year, before allegations against Gregg and John were upheld, will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6.
The MailOnline understand that the BBC have told the MasterChef production company Banijay that the show should reduce Gregg and John’s screen time to a minimum in light of the report’s findings.
A source said: ‘The BBC have made it clear that it should limit the amount of airtime the presenters have in the editing of the new series, with a bigger focus on the contestants who are at the heart of the competition.’
‘Neither Gregg nor John will appear in BBC iPlayer thumbnails and they will not be doing any promotional activity around the latest series.’
‘All of the brilliant new contestants were consulted on whether the series should be broadcast, and no one objected.’
‘Everyone involved is very keen to promote the hard work of the contestants and that will be our priority.’
You can apply online at masterchef.tv.
