Lisa Faulkner makes rare comments about husband John Torode and says she doesn’t read news about them – amid MasterChef star’s sacking over ‘using racist term’

Lisa Faulkner has made rare comments about her marriage to husband John Torode amid the MasterChef star’s recent sacking over claims he used a racist term.

The actress opened up on their 10-year relationship in a new interview, conducted prior to the BBC show’s producers Banijay UK announcing John’s contract would not be renewed after the allegation – which he denied.

Speaking to The Mirror, Lisa, 53, gave a rare insight into their marriage as she said she doesn’t read the news about them and doesn’t understand the interest in their romance.

She remarked: ‘I honestly have no idea about why there’s such interest. I don’t read anything about us, I certainly don’t have Google alerts set up or anything.’

The couple have been in a relationship since 2015 after having got better acquainted during Lisa’s stint on Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, which she went on to win.

They tied the knot in October 2019 in a romantic ceremony in Aynhoe Park, Oxfordshire. 

Speaking further on the public interest in the couple, Lisa continued: ‘The closest I’ve come to it is probably at food shows or when people stop us in the street and say, ”Oh we love you two”, or that they love the shows. Maybe it’s because we genuinely have a lovely relationship?’

Giving a further insight on the key to the strength of their relationship, the TV star shared the secret to their successful marriage.

‘We have a bit of banter but it’s never sniping at each other. We’re just kind to each other, we get on and we look out for each other,’ she added.

Lisa also revealed what it is like working with her husband on their joint ITV show John And Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen.

Describing the balance, Lisa said they ensure they’re ‘not in each other’s pockets’, making sure they have a ‘nice catch up’ amid their downtime. 

Her remarks came before it was confirmed that ITV would continue to broadcast the tenth series of their ITV cookery show following John’s BBC axing from MasterChef. 

MailOnline have contacted Lisa’s representatives for further comment.

It comes as John 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 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 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. 

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’.

It was previously reported that John had used an ‘extremely offensive racist term’ during an evening out after filming the show. 

The corporation refused to say what the racist term was – as has John, who has claimed he did ‘not believe that it happened’.

But it was later described as the ‘worst racial slur there is’ by Pointless host Richard Osman.

He added of the investigation: ‘They found that to be substantively true. They found evidence that they were happy with – that that was true.’

On Thursday, The Times claimed two people ‘close to the report’ alleged that John had used the N-word. There has also been feverish speculation online for days that this was the slur he allegedly used.

John has left MasterChef after the allegation of using racist language was upheld against him. 

He faced nine allegations of poor behaviour between 2012 and 2019.

Investigators said of the other eight that two could not be substantiated and there was insufficient evidence in the remaining six. 

One insider told MailOnline on Thursday that there was ‘relief’ at MasterChef HQ that John is gone, saying he was ‘horrible’ to work with at times .

A third source claimed they had found him to be a ‘very rude and patronising man’.

John said this week, after his sacking, in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram: ‘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.’

It was also claimed the BBC and Banijay had asked John to leave MasterChef citing mental health problems.

The BBC declined to comment on the claims.

Meanwhile, ITV are standing by under fire John, despite his BBC axing from MasterChef following an allegation of racism. 

Sources at ITV have told the MailOnline that it will continue to broadcast the tenth series of John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen as scheduled on Saturday. 

The much-loved cookery show, which launched in 2019, features John and his wife Lisa as they showcase their favourite recipes. 

An ITV source said: ‘There is no change to the ITV schedule and John and Lisa’s Weekends will be broadcast as usual and will continue to air for the next three weeks.’

It means the third episode of the 10th series of the show will be broadcast on ITV1 at 11.40am on Saturday.

There are also plans for the broadcaster to welcome John back later in the year with John & Lisa’s Christmas Kitchen in December.