Lisa Faulkner has hinted at a new secret project as she returned to filming just weeks after her husband John Torode was axed from MasterChef amid a racism scandal.
The 53-year-old actress and presenter took to Instagram on Monday to share a glamorous selfie, revealing she had been back on set for a mystery shoot.
“Thought I would share a pic of today’s shoot,” she wrote alongside the snap. “Was so lovely to see my @justwade makeup and the brilliant @lill_lis cooking and chatting and filming with the loveliest team,” she added, followed by a red love-heart emoji.
Faulkner, who co-hosts John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen on ITV alongside her husband, also posted a photo from the back of a car, telling fans she was on her way to work.
Her return to filming comes after Torode, 60, was dropped from the BBC following an allegation that he used an “extremely offensive racist term” during a drinks gathering after filming MasterChef.
While Torode has insisted he has “no recollection” of the incident and does “not believe it happened”, the allegation was upheld during an investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin, which was commissioned by the BBC to look into claims of inappropriate behaviour by his co-presenter Gregg Wallace.
The BBC confirmed last month that Torode's contract would not be renewed, stating: “The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind.”
The dramatic departure came just hours after BBC director-general Tim Davie refused to back the veteran chef, saying: “I expect action to be taken.”
Despite the scandal, ITV is continuing to back Torode. The broadcaster has confirmed it will air the upcoming tenth series of John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen as scheduled, with plans also in place for a Christmas special later this year.
An ITV insider told MailOnline: “There is no change to the ITV schedule and John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen will be broadcast as usual and will continue to air for the next three weeks.”
The couple’s cookery series first aired in 2019 and has proved popular with weekend viewers thanks to their relaxed dynamic and easy-to-follow recipes.
