Tim Davie condemns ‘serious racist term' used by John Torode
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.
In an interview with BBC News on Tuesday, Davie said he saw the situation as an opportunity for the corporation to 'reset'.
He said he was not directly involved with the matter but was told about the recommendation not to renew Torode's contract and was 'happy that the team were taking action'.
He went on: 'It's really important that we are taking this seriously. It's a reset where we make sure that people are living up to the values we expect across the board.'
Asked exactly what Torode said, Davie replied: 'I'm not going to give you the exact term, because I think, frankly it was serious racist term, a serious racist term, which does not get to be acceptable in any way, shape or form.'
BBC director-general Tim Davie (Andrew Milligan/PA)
A statement from production company Banijay UK released earlier 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.'
The Lewis Silkin report, commissioned by Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone allegations made against other people, including one for using racist language.
Torode confirmed on Monday night he was the person alleged to have used racist language but said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him.
'This allegation – which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace – was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.
'He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
'The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken.
'John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.'
Davie insisted MasterChef does have a future with the broadcaster beyond 2028, when its current deal runs out, while presenting the corporation's 2024/2025 annual report earlier on Tuesday.
Davie said: 'I absolutely think it does (have a future), I think a great programme that's loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals.
'It absolutely can survive and prosper, but we've got to make sure we're in the right place in terms of the culture of the show.'
John Torode after being made an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace (Kirsty O'Connor/PA)
Downing Street has said it 'utterly condemns' any instance of racist language after the allegation made against Torode was upheld.
'When it comes to racism (it) clearly has no place at the BBC or anywhere in society, and we utterly condemn any instances of racist language or abuse in the strongest possible terms,' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said.
'And it's obviously up to the BBC, who are operationally independent from Government, to take forward any necessary next steps.'
It comes after the BBC addressed the future of a series of MasterChef filmed last year, which has not yet been aired, on Monday, saying they had not made a final decision on broadcasting it.
A spokesperson for the corporation said: 'We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part, and at the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants.'
The MasterChef upheaval comes as the BBC faces scrutiny over the Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary which, after a review, was found to have breached the corporation's editorial guidelines on accuracy.
The corporation has also been criticised over its coverage of Glastonbury, particularly the live stream of punk duo Bob Vylan's set, during which singer Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, led crowds in chants of 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'.
In 2022, Torode was made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to food and charity. He became a familiar face to TV audiences in 1996 as the resident chef on ITV's This Morning, before joining MasterChef alongside Wallace when it was known as MasterChef Goes Large.
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Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
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MasterChef judge reveals what it was REALLY like on BBC set with John Torode and Gregg Wallace after working with TV duo for 20 years
A MasterChef judge has revealed what it was really like on the BBC set with John Torode and Gregg Wallace after working with the TV duo for 20 years. William Sitwell, 55, has been a regular on the cooking competition for around 20 years, as an extra judge who comes in for the quarter final episodes. The food critic and journalist appeared on Vanessa Feltz 's self-titled Channel 5 chat show today to speak out on the controversy that has recently beset the programme. John, 59, was axed from the cooking competition in an announcement from the broadcaster on Tuesday afternoon over a historic allegation of racism. Meanwhile, Gregg, 60, was sacked earlier this month after a report upheld 45 of 83 complaints of inappropriate behaviour against him. Their colleague William, speaking on Vanessa, defended the programme and its long-time hosts to the presenter, 63. Their colleague William, speaking on Vanessa, defended the programme and its long-time hosts to the presenter, 63 'I wouldn't argue with any of the allegations, that's not for me to do that', he began. 'All I can say is based on my experience of being on that show for 20 years - and I've worked in quite a few offices, newspaper offices, which are quite harsh environments - the MasterChef studio is the kindest, most courteous, most loving, caring place I've ever worked.' This comes from having seen it from both sides, he said, as both a judge and a contestant - he participated in a so-called battle of the critics a couple of years ago. William said: 'They literally hold your hand right up to the moment the cameras start rolling, they want you to perform the best and everyone's incredibly kind and helpful. 'Once the filming starts, you're on your own, right?! And if you get in the doo doo, that's up to you because that's TV and that's the fun of it. 'But my experience was it was just the opposite of a toxic atmosphere. 'And everything you read now, you'd think it was this terrible violent place of abuse, it's just far from it. 'That's not to say, I wouldn't question any of the allegations, that's not for me to do and I wouldn't attempt to do that.' This comes from having seen it from both sides, he said, as both a judge and a contestant - he participated in a so-called battle of the critics a couple of years ago. Pictured: William, right, with Gregg, left, on MasterChef Of John in particular, William (pictured) commented: 'I feel for him because I think he's a very decent guy, he's a very well-informed, charming, diligent, intelligent man' The MasterChef judge also spoke out specifically on both John and Gregg. The same report that saw Gregg sacked also found John had once used an 'extremely offensive racist term', allegedly during some drinks after filming. 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When he would come in at the quarter final stages, there would be 'a really great atmosphere because you get to know the contestants', he explained 'I feel for him because I think he's a very decent guy, he's a very well-informed, charming, diligent, intelligent man and I'm sad if something like that happened. 'For me, it's a degree of sadness because I think it's a great show, I think it's an important show, I think it's a key part of British culture, I think it reflects British culture.' It comes after John was left 'heartbroken' by discovering he had been dropped from MasterChef online. A source told The Sun: 'He read about it on the BBC News website. 'Obviously he's heartbroken. He feels he's been made a scapegoat off the back of the Gregg Wallace report.' Just after the news broke, the chef released a statement confirming he had not 'heard from anyone at the BBC' or the show's production company Banijay UK. His agent was reportedly called just 11 minutes before the BBC's announcement - and so 'hadn't a chance to call him' before word got out. William appeared to take a swipe at this, when Vanessa introduced the topic of John's sacking: 'Apparently so. I think they forgot to tell him but that's the way the world works, isn't it?' He also spoke on complaints made against Gregg, one of which includes an allegation he once took his trousers down in front of a female coworker in a dressing room, in what she described as 'disgusting and predatory' behaviour. 'He never took his trousers down in front of me', the judge said. 'But what he always did – and I read about this when he quit – he is like a sort of Bernard Manning character, he cannot help but use the opportunity of seeing people to test out new gags, he is this sort of gag machine. 'And I don't get upset by his crazy jokes but I can see how other people might do.' 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BBC News
21 minutes ago
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
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Dani and Jarrod share two-year-old twin daughters Summer and Star, who were on flower girl duties at the wedding, while Dani's four-year-old Santiago - who she has with her 29-year-old ex-partner Sammy Kimmence - and her 11-year-old brother Arty were page boys.
