MasterChef Scandal: John Torode and Gregg Wallace Ousted from Show Amid Racism Allegations

Strategic Insights -

Lisa Faulkner, a former Celebrity MasterChef winner and actress, has expressed gratitude to fans for their support following the sacking of her husband, John Torode, and co-presenter Gregg Wallace from the show. The decision comes after a seven-month investigation by MasterChef's production company, Banijay, which substantiated 45 claims of misconduct against Wallace. The inquiry found that Torode allegedly used an extremely offensive racist term, a claim he denies.

Torode, 60, stated that he had no recollection of using the racist term and claimed that he was not informed of his firing by the BBC prior to the news being made public. He has since thanked fans for the years of support and expressed his intention to focus on other projects. The couple, who met on the celebrity version of MasterChef in 2010, have been co-presenting John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen together.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gregg Wallace, a presenter on MasterChef, has been sacked from the show following a seven-month investigation into misconduct allegations, including claims of using inappropriate sexual jokes and behaving unprofessionally around female colleagues.
  • Wallace accepted the findings of the inquiry and acknowledged that his behaviour changed profoundly in 2018, after being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. He stated that he never set out to harm or humiliate anyone.
  • John Torode, Wallace's co-host on MasterChef, has also been sacked after an allegation of using an extremely offensive racist term was substantiated in the report.
  • Both Wallace and Torode have been presenting MasterChef since 2005 and have been embroiled in controversy surrounding their relationship.
  • The couple, Lisa Faulkner and John Torode, met in 2010 when Faulkner won Celebrity MasterChef.
  • Lisa Faulkner has thanked fans for supporting her husband during the ordeal.

Statistics:

  • 45 misconduct allegations were substantiated against Gregg Wallace during the seven-month investigation.
  • John Torode has been a presenter on MasterChef for 20 years.
  • Gregg Wallace has been co-presenting MasterChef with John Torode since 2005.
  • Banijay, MasterChef's production company, conducted a seven-month investigation into misconduct allegations on the show.
  • Lisa Faulkner and John Torode have been co-presenting John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen together.

Sources:

BBC News

"Gregg Wallace and John Torode sacked from MasterChef"

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61636397