John Torode ‘blindsided' by MasterChef sacking 'he learnt about off BBC News'

Yahoo

8 hours ago

MasterChef presenter John Torode reportedly discovered he had been sacked from the show after reading about it on the BBC News website.
The 59-year-old chef was said to be 'heartbroken' after the BBC and production company Banijay confirmed his departure following allegations of racist language, which surfaced in the wake of the Gregg Wallace scandal.
A source told The Sun: 'John had no idea. He was blindsided.
'John's agent received a call 11 minutes before the statements went out and hadn't had a chance to call him,' the insider added.
'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.'
Torode alluded to not having been told prior to media reports appearing in a lengthy statement on Instagram on Tuesday evening, saying: 'Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay - I am seeing and reading that I've been 'sacked' from MasterChef and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of.
'The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong.
'I'd hoped that I'd have some say in my exit from a show I've worked on since its relaunch in 2005, but events in last few days seem to have prevented that.'
Another source told the Sun that Torode had already planned to step down from the show at the end of this week.
The Australian-born chef started presenting MasterChef alongside Wallace in 2005.
In his statemnt Torode said Celebrity MasterChef and two Christmas specials which he recently filmed 'will be my last'. It is not clear if the BBC will air these shows.
He went on: 'Personally, I have loved every minute working on MasterChef, but it's time to pass the cutlery to someone else. For whoever takes over, love it as I have.
'I will watch fondly from afar as I now focus on the many other exciting projects that I have been working towards. My tummy will be grateful for a rest after 20 years of eating, but what a joy it has been.'
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.
Then on Tuesday, BBC director-general Tim Davie condemned the 'serious racist term' used by Torode, after it was announced his contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.
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.'
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.
'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,' he said.
'I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.'