What we know as MasterChef's John Torode addresses racist language claim
MasterChef production company Banijay UK commissioned law firm Lewis Silkin to do a report into the historic behaviour of presenter Gregg Wallace on the show. Wallace said he was "deeply sorry for any distress caused" and he "never set out to harm or humiliate" after the report found 45 out of 83 allegations were upheld.
The "majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour", the report found. Wallace's return to MasterChef is "untenable", it concluded.
There were two standalone allegations against other people that emerged in the report.
MasterChef presenter Torode said there is an allegation that he made a remark using racist language in 2018 or 2019 and that he apologised immediately after. He added: "I do not believe that it happened."
The Sun claimed Torode was asked to resign and to blame mental health, but he refused. The TV chef has been a presenter on MasterChef since 2005.
BBC News reported that "BBC insiders distanced themselves from that claim" on Monday night.
Yahoo UK has reached out to John Torode and BBC representatives for comment.
Torode has said he is "shocked and saddened" by the allegation.
In a statement, he wrote on Instagram on Monday night: "Following publication of the Executive Summary of the Investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.
"For the sake of transparency, I can confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. 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 malice 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 any offence."
BBC has yet to confirm whether Grace Dent will replace Wallace on the main MasterChef series.
Dent was announced as Wallace's replacement on Celebrity MasterChef while he stepped aside for the investigation last year. Filming for the reality series has now wrapped, but it has yet to air on TV.
She said: "I've been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa. My whole family watches it. It's all about uncovering and championing talent – and to have ended up in this position, is more than a dream to me.
"I'm so excited that I can't eat, which is severely detrimental to a restaurant critic. I feel very lucky to be stepping in for the next Celebrity MasterChef. I can't wait to meet the fresh celebrity faces for 2025."
It also remains unknown whether Dent will step into the same role on MasterChef: The Professionals.
In the wake of the MasterChef report, Wallace has said he is "deeply sorry for any distress caused" and that it was "never intended".
He said, "For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait.
"None of the serious allegations against me were upheld. 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.
"I'm relieved that the Banijay report fully recognises that my behaviour changed profoundly in 2018. Some of my humour and language missed the mark. I never set out to harm or humiliate. I always tried to bring warmth and support to MasterChef, on screen and off.
"After nearly 20 years on the show, I now see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I've only recently begun to understand, may have been misread. I also accept that more could have been done, by others and by myself, to address concerns earlier.'
"A late autism diagnosis has helped me understand how I communicate and how I'm perceived. I'm still learning."
He added: "To those who've shown kindness, thank you. It mattered. This has been brutal. For a working-class man with a direct manner, modern broadcasting has become a dangerous place. I was the headline this time. But I won't be the last...
"There will be more casualties if the BBC continues down this path, where protecting its legacy matters more than protecting people. For my part, with full legal support, I will consider my next move."
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