BBC explains in FULL why MasterChef with Gregg Wallace and John Torode will still air
The BBC has stressed it wants to "properly recognise" the MasterChef contestants by airing a series filmed last year before allegations against Gregg Wallace and John Torode were upheld.
The corporation confirmed yesterday the latest amateur series has been given the green light for broadcast from August 6 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. This is despite the scandal around both Wallace and Torode, who lost their hosting roles after 20 years. Most of the 83 allegations made against Wallace were for inappropriate sexual language and humour while Torode allegedly used a serious racial term.
But they filmed a series last year before these claims were upheld, and the BBC has decided to air this to honour the amateur chefs involved. However, the futures of the celebrity series and the Christmas special, again both already filmed, remain unclear as yet.
Reacting to the news on Wednesday, one former MasterChef worker said the decision to go ahead showed "a blatant disregard for the people who have come forward".
Speaking to BBC News, she warned it was "a total reversal of so-called firing from MasterChef - how can you be fired by your work is still made public? While a gap in the prime time schedule is not ideal, for integrity they should have found other series to go into those slots."
READ MORE: MasterChef's new hosts 'revealed' after Gregg Wallace and John Torode scandal
However, the BBC said in full: "After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August. MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey.
"This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC.
"However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.
"At this stage we have not taken a decision on the celebrity series and Christmas special, which was filmed earlier this year, and we will confirm our plans later in the year.
"Most importantly MasterChef is a brilliant, much-loved programme which is bigger than any one individual. There are many talented, dedicated and hard-working people who make the show what it is. It will continue to flourish on the BBC and we look forward to it returning stronger than ever in the future."
The statement followed news last week that Torode's contract on MasterChef would not be renewed, as confirmed by the BBC and production company Banijay UK.
Torode, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday, confirmed he was the subject of an allegation about 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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Death in Paradise star favourite to play lead detective in new Benidorm-based spin-off series
EXCLUSIVE: Channel 5 has announced a new Death in Paradise-style series called Death in Benidorm - and a former Death in Paradise star is the favourite to play the lead detective Neil Morrissey, known for his role as a murder suspect in Death in Paradise, is currently tipped to be the lead detective in the spin-off series, Death in Benidorm. Channel 5 unveiled plans for the new series earlier this week, which bears a striking resemblance to Death in Paradise but is set in Benidorm. The channel has yet to reveal when the series will air or who will star in it. However, the plot for Death in Benidorm revolves around Detective Dennis Crown, who "has swapped the chaos of the UK for a quieter life running a bar in Benidorm". The series teases: "But when tourists start turning up dead, he's reluctantly drawn back into detective work-egged on by his barmaid Rosa, a crime drama superfan," reports the Express. "With Dennis's real-world experience and Rosa's encyclopaedic TV knowledge, each episode sees the duo tackling a new murder in paradise, whilst trying to remain on the right side of the local Spanish cops." While no official announcements have been made, bookmakers have been speculating about who could play the lead detective, and Neil is the favourite. Neil has starred in popular shows such as Men Behaving Badly, Death in Paradise, and Line of Duty. He played murder suspect, Disco Biscuit, also known as Duncan Roberts, in the BBC drama starring Kris Marshall. Mike Reading, spokesperson at Betway, stated: "Neil Morrissey is the current favourite to be cast as the lead detective in Death in Benidorm. As a household name with a strong track record in other shows, Morrissey brings the right mix of humour, emotional depth and recognisability, if the producers are aiming to turn heads and draw in ratings." He went on to say: "Hot on his heels is Mark Benton, a Channel 5 favourite who could easily fit into the role of Dennis Crown. Benton's everyman appeal and proven charm in Shakespeare & Hathaway would slot perfectly into the tone of a light-but-meaningful coastal crime drama. "For now, though, the latest odds suggest it's Morrissey who looks most likely to be sipping sangria while solving sun-drenched secrets!". Death in Benidorm will air on Channel 5.
Daily Mirror
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC star details 'horrific' car accident and says 'I should have died'
She's bravely showing how her PTSD and mental health issues won't be stopping her take on a once in the lifetime challenge. A contestant on the upcoming BBC gameshow Destination X has opened up about a near-fatal car crash that changed her perspective on life. The show, which will be hosted by Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon, is set to premiere next week with 13 contestants vying for a £100,000 prize. In what promises to be an epic adventure, reminiscent of The Traitors meets Race Across The World, the participants will traverse the continent without knowing their location or destination, deciphering truth from the clues, deceit, and lies presented to them. The diverse group includes an 11-time world record holder, a London cabbie who's conquered Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru and rowed the Atlantic without prior experience, a pilot, a nuclear engineer, and a content creator. Among the competitors is Claire, a retired detective sergeant from West Sussex, who's eager to "go missing for a while" in this unique challenge, reports Wales Online. he 51-year-old from West Sussex is already physically prepared for the game after training in the army and police, having worked with the latter for 26 years. She's also had some adventurous experiences, as an HGV one lorry driver travelling through France and the Alps. But it's not just her professional and adventurous pursuits that define her; Claire has also survived a harrowing ordeal. She disclosed the details of a dreadful car accident she was involved in, describing the scene as "carnage". This brush with death nearly cost her life and has since led her to adopt a new outlook on life. Claire opened up about her past, sharing: "I was in a horrific car accident seven years ago and should have died which was a life changing experience. It made me look at life completely differently. They had to shut the road for six hours, there were four ambulances, five fire engines and it was carnage. My car was in the middle and they didn't expect me to be alive. But there I was." Now gearing up for Destination X, Claire is keen to tackle the show's challenges head-on, despite grappling with mental health issues. She continued: "I'm most excited about getting stuck into the challenges. I have got PTSD and the reason I'm doing this show is to say to the world that even though you might have mental health issues, you can still do it. But equally, I know my limitations. I'm excited about pushing myself to the absolute limit but will say no if I need to." The 10-episode competition will see the players travel on a bus with sensory deprivation and no contact with the outside world, as they're tasked with attempting to figure out where they could possibly be after being offered a series of bizarre clues to help them. Only the smartest will be able to decipher the red herrings from the truth behind the hints, and the players are slowly whittled down to the winner (who scores a £100,000 prize) as they guess their locations, with the contestant furthest away from where they really are being eliminated from the game. "It's the adventure of a lifetime, with one simple question at its heart: where in the world am I? Rob Brydon masterminds the high-stakes competition where nothing is as it seems...," the synopsis teases.
Daily Mirror
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Ozzy Osbourne fans will see Black Sabbath star's final months in new documentary
Ozzy Osbourne's final months were captured for a new BBC documentary, his son Jack revealed before the Black Sabbath frontman's tragic death at the age of 76 The Osbournes were the pioneers for reality TV - and it's now been revealed that Ozzy Osbourne 's final months were being filmed for a new TV documentary. The Black Sabbath frontman died, aged 76, surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday morning. His wife Sharon Osbourne, 72, and four of his children issued a joint statement, which read: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis." Days after his death, an interview with his son Jack has resurfaced, in which he revealed his dad's final moments were filmed for a BBC TV documentary. The 10 part series, Home To Roost, originally planned to follow Ozzy and Sharon as they returned to their home in Buckinghamshire after 20 years of living in America. However, it's now said to be pivoted towards more of a tribute for the star. "Right now it'll take place over the Sabbath era and early 1980s. We're definitely going for a more adult rating for the film," Jack told the Mail's Weekend Magazine. "This is by no means going to be a fluff piece." Jack worked as co-producer on the biopic and promised all the chaos and mayhem we all know and love, as well as a focus on Ozzy and Sharon's love story, which began in the 1970s. Ozzy's youngest son Jack also confirmed that his father was working on an autobiography titled Last Rites before he died - which is expected to be released in autumn this year. Just weeks before his tragic death, Ozzy performed for the final time at his hometown in Birmingham, taking to the stage with his Black Sabbath bandmates at Villa Park. In a day that celebrated his five decades in the industry, some of the biggest names in the industry joined together to give him the send off he deserved. At the end of the celebration, the group presented Ozzy with a cake, which featured a detailed portrait of the star to honour him and celebrate the end of their run together as a band. The band's co-founder Tony Iommi told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday: "He loved what he did, he loved music, he loved playing together, and I'm so glad we had the opportunity of getting together again to do the [farewell] show." He added:"It was brilliant being with all the guys again, and the atmosphere, and it was brilliant for Ozzy because he really wanted to do that, he felt at home there and it was good for all of us."
