BBC star leading the race to replace John Torode on MasterChef – after star is ‘asked to step down' from show
Australian star Torode, 59, has been asked to step down from his long-running role on the show after an historic accusation of racism, which he has no memory of and denies ever happened.
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The claim against him emerged as part of an investigation into his shamed former co-star Gregg Wallace that saw 45 of 83 allegations of bad behaviour upheld against him.
While food critic Grace Dent has already led the celebrity version of the show and is a favourite to present the amateur version too, Saturday Kitchen's Matt Tebbutt is also being lined up.
It's believed he has already landed the job fronting MasterChef: The Professionals.
A TV insider said: 'Both Grace and Matt are well thought of at the Beeb and the one thing they want in the wake of the show's recent crisis is familiarity and safety.
'They're also conscious that having a male and female pairing is a welcome break from it being fronted by two blokes.'
Meanwhile, Torode was cited — but not named — in findings published over a racist remark he allegedly made during a private conversation.
Torode, who has hosted the BBC1 cooking show with Wallace since 2005, was shocked to be told of the allegation — which did not receive a complaint at the time but had been raised with investigators.
In a farcical turn of events, the BBC was unable to specify the time or date of the allegation, narrowing it down to '2018 or 2019'.
Shockingly, sources said the BBC and production company Banijay asked John to resign from the beleaguered show last week and claim he had mental health problems — to which he refused.
He issued a statement to The Sun confirming he was the individual in the Wallace investigation who was 'alleged to have used racial language on one occasion'.
However John — married to actress and ex-Celebrity MasterChef contestant Lisa Faulkner, 53 — believes it never even happened.
The dad of four said: 'The allegation is I did so sometime between 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and the person I was speaking with did not believe it was intended in a malicious way and 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.'
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It is understood to be the only issue involving him in the report, though a source close to him said he is 'absolutely devastated to have been pulled into this mess'.
They went on: 'He was at drinks after filming when he is alleged to have used an inappropriate racial term.
"The witness said he apologised instantly, and he was mortified.
'The witness even stated he didn't use the term as a slur.
'No one complained at the time, but it's been brought up during the inquiry.
"Shockingly he was only made aware of the incident two weeks ago and was only informed on Friday that it would be upheld."
The BBC called John on Thursday night, followed by an email on Friday, asking him to step back.
He was told to have his answer by Monday.
A source claimed: 'They ambushed him, and it was suggested he quit due to the stress and scrutiny of the furore around the show.
'Obviously he was absolutely shocked and appalled and told them quite firmly he didn't have any mental health issues.
"To try to use mental health as a get-out clause seems incredibly low — and is also deeply unfair to those with genuine mental health trauma.
'John absolutely loves MasterChef, and doesn't want to lose his job because of an investigation into his co-star."
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