Former Masterchef host John Torode was sacked from the show for allegedly using the N-word on set and directing it towards a member of staff.
The Australian-born chef, 59, lost his job at MasterChef after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have ‘absolutely no recollection’ of.
The BBC said on Tuesday that Torode’s contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an ‘extremely offensive racist term’ following a complaint from a member of staff.
It has been previously reported that the presenter, who also hosts a cookery show with his wife Lisa Faulkner on ITV, used the N-word while singing along to a Kanye West song during a wrap party in 2019.
He then used the word again whilst chatting to a friend on the MasterChef production team, who didn’t take offence, according to The Sun.
But, BBC News has since reported this was not the incident which led to the complaint upheld by the report.
This instead related to another incident a year earlier, when he allegedly used the same word on set after filming an episode of Masterchef and it was directed at a member of staff.
The news site added that eight other complaints were made against Torode in the report, relating to allegations of racist language, abusive language towards junior production staff and sexual language.
Former Masterchef host John Torode (pictured) was sacked from the show for allegedly using the N-word on set and directing it towards a member of staff
John and Gregg (pictured together) appear to have endured a tumultuous friendship behind the scenes of their 19-year tenure of the show
Torode and Wallace (pictured together) were sacked following an invastigation into the show
These allegations were not upheld as they were unsubstantiated due to a lack of evidence or witnesses.
The complaint against Torode was revealed in the report into co-presenter Gregg Wallace’s inappropriate behaviour. Wallace, 60, was sacked after more than 40 complaints against him were upheld.
The report also included one further complaint which was upheld relating to a third unnamed person, supposedly a MasterChef senior executive who was accused of swearing, according to BBC News.
The news site said it has contacted that executive but has not heard back.
Meanwhile, a Banijay spokesperson said the allegation is being handled ‘appropriately internally’.
Further revelations from the BBC News investigation also claim that Wallace and Torode were ‘never friends’ and their relationship had broken down.
‘Clearly they had a good chemistry when the cameras were rolling. But you rarely saw them interact when the cameras were off,’ a former MasterChef worker said.
‘And when Gregg was saying inappropriate things like that, John held his counsel. I never saw him step in,’ they added.
The complaint against Torode (left) was revealed in the report into co-presenter Gregg Wallace’s (right) inappropriate behaviour
Another person who also worked on the cookery show told BBC News the dynamic between Torode and Wallace always ‘seemed off’, but could never figure out why.
Torode would also never call out his co-host’s behaviour and would just roll his eyes whenever he said something inappropriate, they added.
It is not the first time their relationship has been questioned, as Torode himself told the Mirror in 2017: ‘It’s funny, we’ve never been friends. We’ve not been to each other’s houses…’
John also admitted to having booze-fuelled spats with his co-host, adding: ‘We’ve had a couple of standoffs over the years, about contestants, and I’ve just had to walk away from him.’
This abrasive behaviour has now reportedly spilled over into the scandal engulfing both presenters, as insiders have claimed Wallace was briefing against Torode.
Such a move would explain the reasoning behind a now deleted post on Wallace’s social media which seemingly pointed the finger at his co-host’s behaviour following the backlash against him last week.
‘What really concerns me about the short summary is others who have been found guilty of serious allegations have been erased from the published version of events. I, and I’m sure the public, would like to know why?’
It is also notable that Torode has never defended his MasterChef colleague when allegations against him first emerged in December last year.
The MasterChef hosts (pictured) had their contracts with the BBC terminated after an investigation in Wallace’s behaviour
In a statement at the time the Australian chef said the claims were ‘truly upsetting’ and the ‘thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear’.
Wallace was said to be ‘furious’ with his former co-star and unfollowed him and his wife Lisa on Instagram.
Torode was dramatically axed from MasterChef on Tuesday – hours after the BBC’s director general refused to back him over an allegation of using racist language.
‘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 BBC said in a statement at the time.
‘The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.’
Hours before the announcement, BBC director general Tim Davie had refused to back him and said he expected ‘action to be taken’ over the allegation.
He delivered the remarks as the BBC released its annual report – an occasion overshadowed by controversies for the second year in a row.
Last year’s was published amid the fallout over news presenter Huw Edwards who pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children.
Wallace, 60, was fired from BBC MasterChef following a nine-month sexual misconduct investigation
Asked about the Torode racism row, Tim Davie said: ‘The BBC in some ways are quite simple on this – if someone is found to not live up to our values we expect the independent company, Banijay in this case, to take action and report back to us on what they have done.
‘These are not BBC employees, but we absolutely expect action to be taken.’
Mr Davie added: ‘I think a great programme that’s loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals.
‘It absolutely can survive and prosper, but we’ve got to make ing drinks sure we’re in the right place in ness terms of the culture of the show.’
It had been alleged by a source close to John that he had used an inappropriate racial term during drinks after filming. The witness claimed he had apologised immediately and ‘was mortified’ and he ‘didn’t use the term as a slur’.
No one complained at the time but the incident was brought up during the inquiry into Wallace, they said.
On Monday, Torode said he had ‘absolutely no recollection’ of the incident and was ‘shocked and saddened’ by the allegation. ‘I would never wish to cause anyone offence,’ he added.
Responding to his sacking, Torode said: ‘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 the last few says seem to have prevented that.’
He said he ‘had loved every minute’ working on the show but it was ‘time to pass the cutlery to someone else’.
‘Life is everchanging and ever moving and sometimes personal happiness and fulfilment lay elsewhere,’ he added.
The BBC did not comment on the BBC News article.
