The BBC has denied reports it has decided to air the final series of MasterChef featuring longtime hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode, despite both departing the show amid separate controversies.
According to sources, the BBC and production company Banijay UK are planning to broadcast the last amateur and celebrity editions “once the dust settles.”
The celebrity instalment sees broadcaster and restaurant critic Grace Dent stepping in to co-host alongside Torode.
According to reports, BBC and Banijay executives debated whether to air the series after an investigation upheld a complaint that Torode had used racist language.
While the 59-year-old acknowledged he had been named, he has denied the incident took place, insisting he had “no recollection of the incident” and was “shocked and saddened” by the allegation.
His former co-host Wallace’s position became “untenable” after 45 out of 83 allegations of inappropriate behaviour were upheld during a seven-month investigation.
“These past eight months have been truly hellish for all concerned. The BBC and Banijay have faced a moral and professional dilemma like never before. Obviously Gregg’s case was more clear cut, but John being dragged through the mud wasn’t what anyone wanted or expected to happen,” a source said.
“But at the same time, and as a publicly funded body, the BBC has a duty to both provide entertainment as well as fulfil its obligations to cast, crew, contestants and viewers alike. If they were to can these two series, hundreds of people — those who appeared or worked on the shows — would be so bitterly disappointed.”
The insider added to The Sun: “So the feeling at present is that the show, quite literally, must go on — albeit once the dust has settled and all the fuss died down. The two presenters have already been cancelled on the Beeb — they don’t wish to cancel the series too; neither of which, it must be noted, received any complaints.”
However, a BBC spokesperson told The Standard that no final decision has been made on whether the amateur and celebrity editions of the show will air.
“No decision has been made on TX,” they said, referring to a possible transmission date.
The statement echoes comments made by BBC director-general Tim Davie, who told BBC News: “We haven’t made a decision yet” regarding airing the already-filmed series.
On Monday night, Torode confirmed he was the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of his co-presenter Wallace.
Then on Tuesday, Davie condemned the “serious racist term” used by Torode, after it was announced his contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.
A statement from production company Banijay UK released earlier this week 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.”
On Tuesday, Torode reportedly discovered he had been sacked from the show after reading about it on the BBC News website.
The Sun reported that his representatives were contacted just 11 minutes after the BBC and Banijay issued their public statement.
Torode alluded to not having been told of his sacking prior to media reports appearing in a lengthy statement on Instagram on Tuesday evening.
