John Torode, an Australian-British celebrity chef who hosts MasterChef UK, has been axed from the reality TV cooking show after an investigation found that he’d used racist language on set.
On Wednesday (Aus Time), a spokesperson for BBC — the network which airs MasterChef UK — confirmed it would not be renewing its contract with the Aussie presenter, stating that Torode’s alleged use of “an extremely offensive racist term” was being taken “extremely seriously”.
News of the Aussie chef’s axing comes off the back of a seven-month investigation led by British law firm Lewis Silkin, which Banijay UK, the production company behind Masterchef UK, commissioned.
“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,” a spokesperson shared.
Torode has since taken to Instagram, denying the allegations and stating that he has “no recollection” of using any racist language in the MasterChef UK workplace.
“For the sake of transparency I confirm that I am the individual to have used racial language on one occasion,” his statement reads.
“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.
“I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. However, 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 offence.”
In a second Instagram post, Torode said he “hadn’t heard” from BBC or Banijay, despite seeing news of his sacking. He also emphasised that he had no recollection of using racist language before thanking MasterChef for his television journey.
“Although I haven’t heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay — I am seeing and reading that I’ve been ‘sacked’ from MasterChef,” he penned in his second statement.
“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 hope 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.”
Days before Torode’s axing, fellow MasterChef UK host Gregg Wallace was sacked after multiple people accused him of inappropriate behaviour, including sexual misconduct.
Per 9News, 40 of the 83 allegations made against the TV host were substantiated by the Lewis Silkin inquiry.
Wallace responded to the news via an Instagram statement, apologising for “any distress caused” by his actions.
“None of the serious allegations me were upheld,” Wallace shared.
“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.”
Image source: Instagram / John Torode
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