The BBC is facing increasing pressure to pull this year’s MasterChef series following the sacking of presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
The broadcaster is facing opposition to its decision from the broadcast union, a contestants who has asked to be edited out, and some of the women who filed complaints against former presenter Gregg Wallace.
John Torode was sacked from the show after an investigation upheld a complaint that Torode had used racist language.
Wallace was also sacked after 45 out of 83 allegations of inappropriate behaviour were upheld following a seven-month investigation.
Whilst the BBC has announced the new series will still be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer, the head of broadcast union Bectu, Philippa Childs asked the BBC “to reconsider its decision to broadcast the latest series of MasterChef” in a statement to BBC News.
She said: "Whilst the BBC claims that it has consulted with contestants there appears to have been no consultation with complainants; freelancers who have taken the very difficult step of speaking out and who will legitimately feel distressed as the show appears on their screens several times a week over the next two months."
"If [the BBC] are serious about addressing this industry wide problem, broadcasters should not reward bad behaviour with prime-time coverage," she added.
The BBC declined to comment on Childs’ comments when approached by BBC News.
However, it is understood that the new series may be edited in an attempt to mimimise the prominence of the former hosts, with focus being placed on the contestants.
One contestant, Sarah Shafi, has been entirely edited out of the new series.
The move was the broadcaster’s solution to Shafi’s request that the series not be aired.
Shafi told BBC Newsnight that in order to respect those who have filed complaints, the show should have been “axed”.
She added that axing the show would send a “strong message” that the BBC does not support people in prominent positions facilitating enabling environments.
Shafi said she faced pressure to agree to the show being aired, adding the solution of editing her out made her feel “flabbergasted.”
“This is a woman being edited out. Again, the women gets silenced into extinction. It’s happening time and time again.”
“My point was not about me not being associated with it. My point was about the institutional enabling environment. I said I am completely against the airing of the show. I object to it strongly. This is the principle I’m standing by. I’m objecting to the show being aired, not about me being in it,” she said.
Production company Banijay and the BBC said they had consulted all contestants before deciding to air the series and said they were “sorry” that Shafi did not support the decision.
Some of the women who came forward with claims against Wallace have also expressed anger at the broadcaster’s decision to air the series.
One former MasterChef worker who claimed Wallace groped her said that it showed “a blatant disregard for the people who have come forward.”
She said “it was a total reversal of so-called firing from MasterChef.”
Another former member of staff said the move was “profoundly disrespectful” to people like her who made allegations. She alleged that Wallace pulled his trousers down in front of her.
She added: “It ultimately sends a message that such behaviour can be overlooked.”
Penny East, chief executive of leading women’s charity Fawcett Society, said in response to the decision: "Seeing Gregg Wallace on our screens will be deeply uncomfortable for many people, not least the brave women who have spoken about his appalling behaviour
"It can't be right that men who sexually harass women continue to be given platform and allowed to maintain their profile and power
"We also know that all of the contestants will have put their hearts and souls into the competition over the many weeks of filming. To leave them with nothing to show for this feels uncomfortable.
"Perhaps editing out the presenters entirely would have been a better solution."
Shafi has previously expressed concerns about her experience on MasterChef, which she described as a “boys’ game”.
"I went there being faithful to food, not to be eyed up and ogled, it just felt that was very uncomfortable for me," she said. "That was with Gregg Wallace."
Banijay said it had “no record of Sarah raising concerns with producers at the time of filming, however when raised during the formal investigation process, we thoroughly assessed her claims including reviewing relevant programme rushes with Sarah
“These do not support her version of events regarding inappropriate comments or actions by Gregg Wallace which Sarah has acknowledged.”
Wallace, who has previously strongly denied any sexually harassing behaviour and groping, has been approached for comment.
At the time the allegations against him were upheld he said he was cleared of "the most serious and sensational allegations".
But he added: "I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate.
"For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks."
The upheld complaint against Torode related to a severely offensive racist term allegedly used on the set of MasterChef in 2018.
The presenter said he had "no recollection" of it and that any racist language is "wholly unacceptable".
A celebrity version of the show starring Torode and Grace Dent has also been filmed. It is not yet known whether it will be aired.
