John Torode has claimed the BBC did not tell him he had been sacked from MasterChef after a report found he had used an ‘extremely offensive racist term’.
The star said tonight he was ‘seeing and reading’ he had been dropped from the show as he broke his silence in an explosive post on Instagram.
Torode, 59, also reiterated he had ‘no recollection’ of making a racist comment and did not believe it had happened.
It comes after the BBC announced this afternoon that production company Banijay would not be renewing the 59-year-old’s contract.
The broadcaster said that it does not ‘tolerate racist language of any kind’ and that it takes the finding ‘extremely seriously’.
Writing on Instagram this evening, Torode said: ‘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.
‘The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong.
‘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 days seem to have prevented that.’
Last night, Torode confirmed the findings of the report but denied he had made a racist remark.
John Torode and Lisa Faulkner having lunch in June as the investigation into Wallace was underway
Last night, Torode took to Instagram to confirm he had been accused of using racist language
The pair ate at a restaurant in London during the June heatwave
It has been alleged by a source close to Torode that he used the inappropriate racial term during drinks after filming.
The witness claimed Torode apologised instantly 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 Wallace’s inquiry, the source said.
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. John Torode denies the allegation.
‘He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened.
‘He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
‘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.
‘John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.’
Meanwhile, director general Mr Davie has insisted that cookery show MasterChef can still prosper despite the loss of Wallace and Torode.
He 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.’
The director general added: ‘I think it’s a great programme that’s well loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals.
‘It absolutely can survive and prosper, but we’ve got to make sure we’re in the right place in terms of the culture of the show.’
The majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94 per cent) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018
Torode claimed he had ‘absolutely no recollection’ of the incident and did ‘not believe it happened’
A Banijay spokesperson said: ‘In response to John Torode’s statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously.
‘The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018.
‘This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint. Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.’
Torode is said to have been the subject of multiple allegations before only one – relating to ‘racist language’ – was upheld, the Telegraph has reported.
One insider told the paper there had been a ‘massive cultural problem’ at the show going back decades.
‘For a long time, certain kinds of language and jokes were found acceptable,’ they said.
‘There is a massive cultural problem there, and it goes back 20 years, when attitudes and ways of working were different.’
It follows a separate report in The Sun claiming that Torode was asked by the BBC and production company Banijay to step down from MasterChef and then pretend he had mental health issues.
The source went on to explain that, ‘shockingly’, Torode was only made aware of the claim relating to his ‘racist language’ two weeks ago before being informed on Friday that it would be upheld.
Wallace was previously blasted by disability charities for using his autism as an excuse for his behaviour
Torode was reportedly called by the BBC on Thursday night, followed by an email on Friday asking him to quit.
The source reportedly said: ‘They ambushed him, and it was suggested he quit due to the stress and scrutiny of the furore around the show.
‘Obviously he was absolutely shocked and appalled and told them quite firmly he didn’t have any mental health issues. To try to use mental health as a get-out clause seems incredibly low — and is also deeply unfair to those with genuine mental health trauma.
‘John absolutely loves MasterChef, and doesn’t want to lose his job because of an investigation into his co-star.’
In his social media post last night, Torode said: ‘Following publication of the Executive Summary of the Investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.
‘For the sake of transparency I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion.
‘The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.’
Torode went on to say he had ‘absolutely no recollection’ of the incident and did ‘not believe it happened’.
He added: ‘I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
‘I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.’
Wallace has hit out at the BBC with a new statement after 45 of 83 complaints against him were upheld in an independent probe
Meanwhile, an investigation into Wallace’s behaviour on the cooking show upheld 45 out of 83 complaints made against him.
The damning probe also found that two complaints about the behaviour of ‘other people’ were upheld.
While apologising for any ‘distress’ he caused, Wallace took aim at the MasterChef broadcaster, which he claims has valued ‘protecting its legacy’ over ‘protecting people’.
Warning that it was ‘dangerous’ to be a ‘working-class man with a direct manner’ in the world of broadcasting, he said he ‘won’t be the last’ to face cancellation.
The presenter said: ‘In the end, the BBC left me exposed to trial by media and the damage it leaves in its wake.
‘To those who’ve shown kindness, thank you. It mattered. This has been brutal. For a working-class man with a direct manner, modern broadcasting has become a dangerous place. I was the headline this time. But I won’t be the last.
‘There will be more casualties if the BBC continues down this path, where protecting its legacy matters more than protecting people. For my part, with full legal support, I will consider my next move.’
Patrick Holland, CEO of MasterChef production company Banijay, said he was ‘extremely sorry’ to those who had been impacted by Wallace’s behaviour and added that the report makes the star’s ‘return to MasterChef untenable’.
Wallace’s statement claimed that he ‘never set out to harm or humiliate’ anyone and that he was ‘deeply sorry for any distress caused’.
He said his ‘late autism diagnosis’ – which he received while he stepped back from MasterChef at the end of last year – has helped him to understand how he communicates and how he is perceived.
He said: ‘For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. None of the serious allegations against me were upheld.
‘I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended.
‘I’m relieved that the Banijay report fully recognises that my behaviour changed profoundly in 2018.
‘Some of my humour and language missed the mark. I never set out to harm or humiliate. I always tried to bring warmth and support to MasterChef, on screen and off.
‘After nearly 20 years on the show, I now see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I’ve only recently begun to understand, may have been misread. I also accept that more could have been done, by others and by myself, to address concerns earlier.
‘A late autism diagnosis has helped me understand how I communicate and how I’m perceived. I’m still learning. Banijay have given me great support, and I thank them.’
