Tom Kerridge has weighed in on who could take over MasterChef from Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
The celebrity chef, 51, who has appeared as a guest on the show, said his ‘phone hasn’t rung’ since the pair were let go.
Gregg Wallace was this week banned from working at the BBC after executives ruled they did not ‘have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour’ after a series of complaints.
Days later reports claimed the BBC sacked John Torode after he allegedly ‘used the N-word twice while singing along to a Kanye West song’.
The host, 59, was reportedly singing the rapper’s hit Gold Digger when he was allegedly ‘caught using the racist term during after work drinks six or seven years ago’.
Rumours have since been swirling around who could take over from Torode and Wallace to present the popular competition show, which first aired in July 1990.
The upcoming series’ – which have already been filmed – features former I’m A Celeb star and restaurant critic Grace Dent, who replaced Wallace to co-host with Torode.
One possible contender was Great British Menu favourite Tom Kerridge – but he told MailOnline that ‘nobody’s made a phone call’ to him yet.
Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has weighed in on who he thinks could take over MasterChef from Gregg Wallace and John Torode – but he doesn’t think it’ll be him
Torode and Wallace will not be returning to MasterChef
Kerridge said: ‘There hasn’t been a single thing. I’m only reading the same things in the paper as you, but I doubt it will be me.’
The chef said his nine weeks on the Great British Menu makes him a difficult choice for the role, similarly to fellow chef-turned-presenter Andi Oliver.
He told MailOnline: ‘I’m on Great British Menu for nine weeks of the year, same as Andi Oliver. I know her odds are really short as well.
‘I mean she hasn’t let me know – in fact I haven’t had a text off her today so who knows?’
Kerridge admitted there is somewhat of an awkward silence between the UK’s celebrity chefs while the void left by Torode and Wallace is filled.
‘I have no idea who it’s going to be, but I’m sure they’ll make a great decision,’ he said.
‘MasterChef is a phenomenal show. It’s amazing.’
He added that whoever does take on the job will have a ‘magical kind of experience coming their way’ – but reiterated that he ‘knows nothing’ about the show’s future.
The BBC and production company Banijay plan to air both the amateur and celebrity editions ‘once the dust has settled’
Speculation about the future of MasterChef comes after it was claimed that Torode was fired from the programme for saying the ‘worst racial slur there is’.
The TV host, 59, was reportedly singing Kanye West’s hit Gold Digger when he was allegedly ‘caught using the racist term during after work drinks six or seven years ago’.
The Sun claims Torode used the word again whilst chatting to a friend on the MasterChef’s production team, who didn’t take offence.
The Australian-born chef has insisted ‘he had absolutely no recollection’ of using a racist term while drinking with colleagues seven years ago.
The person who raised the complaint is understood to have ‘overheard the conversation’.
The BBC has said the host’s contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an ‘extremely offensive racist term’ during drinks after filming the show.
But the corporation has refused to say what the slur was – as has Torode – leading to feverish speculation online that it could be the N-word.
Tom Kerridge at Pub In The Park
The Australian chef was dramatically axed from MasterChef – hours after the BBC’s director general refused to back him over an allegation of using racist language. The complaint against John was revealed in the report into co-presenter Gregg’s inappropriate behaviour
It was yesterday described as the ‘worst racial slur there is’ by Richard Osman. The Beeb and production company Banijay believe the allegation is ‘watertight’ and will stand up in court if he tried to sue, he said.
Another insider told MailOnline that there was ‘relief’ at MasterChef HQ that Torode 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’.
Torode has taken the stance that said ‘he had absolutely no recollection’ of using a racial slur and did ‘not believe that it happened’.
This is despite a witness claiming he had apologised immediately, ‘was mortified’ and ‘didn’t use the term as a slur’ during drinks following a day filming MasterChef in 2018.
The upcoming series’ – which have already been filmed – features former I’m A Celeb star and restaurant critic Grace Dent, who replaced Wallace to co-host with Torode
Torode 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 Torode to leave MasterChef citing mental health problems.
The BBC yesterday declined to comment on the claims.
But an insider said: ‘The BBC and Banijay spoke to his reps before the announcement on Tuesday.
‘The BBC never suggested he resign nor raised mental health’.
