Latest news with #HowtoSurviveaWarzone
The National
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
MasterChef's John Torode accused of racism in Gregg Wallace review
The report, commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK and led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone allegations made against other people, including one for using racist language. MASTERCHEF presenter John Torode has confirmed he is the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review into the behaviour of co- presenter Gregg Wallace . In a post on Instagram, Torode confirmed 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. His statement said: '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. READ MORE: What does review into BBC's How to Survive a Warzone really say? 'For the sake of transparency, I 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 malicious 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. (Image: PA Wire) 'I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.' Reports in The Sun said Torode had been asked to leave the show and claim he had mental health issues following the allegation. A BBC insider said they do not recognise this. It comes after Wallace said he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' in the wake of the report, which included one allegation of 'unwelcome physical contact' that was upheld. In November 2024, the show's production company, Banijay UK, announced that Wallace, 60, would step away from his role on MasterChef while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. In a statement to the PA news agency, he said: 'For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. READ MORE: Newsletter: Why is the BBC not talking about Scottish concerns? '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.' The report found that the 'majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94%) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018', with only one allegation substantiated after 2018. It also concluded that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour', adding that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated'. The report noted that during the course of the investigation, which was over a seven-month period, Wallace was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and said that the findings should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity. In his statement, Wallace added: '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 praised the show's production company, Banijay, saying they had 'given me great support, and I thank them'. The former greengrocer added: '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.' READ MORE: The crucial points in BBC Gaza documentary review not being talked about Banijay UK said that 'Wallace's return to MasterChef (is) untenable' following the number of sustained allegations. Patrick Holland, chief executive of Banijay UK, said that while the report 'makes for uncomfortable reading', it also provided 'valuable insight to ensure that going forward everyone working on our productions feels safe and supported, and that inappropriate behaviour is quickly and professionally dealt with'. The BBC also said it has 'informed' Wallace that it has 'no plans to work with him in future', adding in a statement: 'This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us. 'Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour, both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.' The BBC also addressed the future of a series of MasterChef filmed last year which has not yet been aired, saying it had not made a final decision on broadcasting it. Last year, a BBC News investigation revealed a string of allegations of inappropriate sexual comments and alleged inappropriate behaviour against Wallace by 13 people who worked with him across a range of shows over a 17-year period, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark. A statement from Wallace's lawyers at the time said that it 'is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature', as reported by BBC News. Ahead of the official publishing of the external review, Wallace claimed in an Instagram post on July 8, which appears to have been taken down, that he had been cleared of the 'most serious and sensational accusations' against him.
The National
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
John Torode confirms he was accused of racism in Gregg Wallace review
The report, commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK and led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone allegations made against other people, including one for using racist language. MASTERCHEF presenter John Torode has confirmed he is the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review into the behaviour of co- presenter Gregg Wallace . In a post on Instagram, Torode confirmed 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. His statement said: '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. READ MORE: What does review into BBC's How to Survive a Warzone really say? 'For the sake of transparency, I 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 malicious 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. (Image: PA Wire) 'I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.' Reports in The Sun said Torode had been asked to leave the show and claim he had mental health issues following the allegation. A BBC insider said they do not recognise this. It comes after Wallace said he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' in the wake of the report, which included one allegation of 'unwelcome physical contact' that was upheld. In November 2024, the show's production company, Banijay UK, announced that Wallace, 60, would step away from his role on MasterChef while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. In a statement to the PA news agency, he said: 'For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. READ MORE: Newsletter: Why is the BBC not talking about Scottish concerns? '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.' The report found that the 'majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94%) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018', with only one allegation substantiated after 2018. It also concluded that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour', adding that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated'. The report noted that during the course of the investigation, which was over a seven-month period, Wallace was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and said that the findings should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity. In his statement, Wallace added: '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 praised the show's production company, Banijay, saying they had 'given me great support, and I thank them'. The former greengrocer added: '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.' Banijay UK said that 'Wallace's return to MasterChef (is) untenable' following the number of sustained allegations. Patrick Holland, chief executive of Banijay UK, said that while the report 'makes for uncomfortable reading', it also provided 'valuable insight to ensure that going forward everyone working on our productions feels safe and supported, and that inappropriate behaviour is quickly and professionally dealt with'. The BBC also said it has 'informed' Wallace that it has 'no plans to work with him in future', adding in a statement: 'This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us. 'Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour, both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.' The BBC also addressed the future of a series of MasterChef filmed last year which has not yet been aired, saying it had not made a final decision on broadcasting it. Last year, a BBC News investigation revealed a string of allegations of inappropriate sexual comments and alleged inappropriate behaviour against Wallace by 13 people who worked with him across a range of shows over a 17-year period, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark. A statement from Wallace's lawyers at the time said that it 'is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature', as reported by BBC News. Ahead of the official publishing of the external review, Wallace claimed in an Instagram post on July 8, which appears to have been taken down, that he had been cleared of the 'most serious and sensational accusations' against him.
The National
5 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Donald Trump vows to send weapons to Ukraine in U-turn
The US president made the announcement during an Oval Office meeting with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. DONALD Trump said he would punish Russia with tariffs if there is not a deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days. 'We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days,' Trump said. He did not provide specifics on how the tariffs would be implemented. 'I use trade for a lot of things,' he added. 'But it's great for settling wars.' READ MORE: What does the review into BBC's How to Survive a Warzone actually say? Rutte then confirmed the US had decided to "massively supply Ukraine with what is necessary through Nato" and that the Europeans would foot the bill. European countries will send Kyiv their own Patriot air defence systems - which Ukraine relies on to repel Russia's deadly air strikes - and replacements will then be issued by the US, Trump said. Rutte also planned to hold talks with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and secretary of state Marco Rubio, as well as members of Congress. Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday. Trump made quickly stopping the war one of his diplomatic priorities, and he has increasingly expressed frustration about Russian president Vladimir Putin's unbudging stance on US-led peace efforts. Trump has long boasted of his friendly relationship with Putin, and after taking office in January repeatedly said that Russia was more willing than Ukraine to reach a peace deal. Donald trump meets with Mark Rutte (Image: Nathan Howard, REUTERS) At the same time, Trump accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the war and called him a 'dictator without elections.' But Russia's relentless onslaught against civilian areas of Ukraine wore down Trump's patience. In April, Trump urged Putin to 'STOP!' launching deadly barrages on Kyiv, and the following month said in a social media post that the Russian leader ' has gone absolutely CRAZY!' as the bombardments continued. 'I am very disappointed with President Putin, I thought he was somebody that meant what he said,' Trump said late on Sunday. 'He'll talk so beautifully and then he'll bomb people at night. We don't like that.' Zelenskyy said he and Trump's envoy, retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, had 'a productive conversation' about strengthening Ukrainian air defences, joint arms production and purchasing US weapons in conjunction with European countries, as well as the possibility of tighter international sanctions on the Kremlin. READ MORE: UK Government draining aid budget with 'broken' asylum hotels policy, watchdog warns 'We hope for the leadership of the United States, because it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its … ambitions are stopped by force,' Zelenskyy said on Telegram. Later on Monday, Zelenskyy posted about having spoken to Trump by phone and said he 'discussed the necessary means and solutions with the president to provide better protection for people from Russian attacks and to strengthen our positions'. Zelenskyy added that Trump had 'agreed to catch up more often by phone and co-ordinate our steps in the future'. Trump has confirmed the US is sending Ukraine more badly needed Patriot air defence missiles and that the European Union will pay the US for the 'various pieces of very sophisticated' weaponry. Doubts were recently raised about Trump's commitment to supply Ukraine when the Pentagon paused shipments over concerns that US stockpiles were running low. Rutte said Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the UK and Denmark would be among the buyers to supply Ukraine. He said 'speed is of the essence here' and he suggested that some weapons would be rushed to Ukraine and later replaced with purchases from the US. A senior Russian politician, Konstantin Kosachev, said Trump's plan had 'only one beneficiary — the US military-industrial complex'.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
BBC Gaza documentary: Review finds editorial failures; Ofcom launches own investigation
A report commissioned by BBC director-general Tim Davie has concluded that the Gaza documentary 'How to Survive a Warzone' breached editorial standards and that oversight failures occurred before it was pulled from iPlayer in February. The independent producer, Hoyo Films, was found primarily responsible, although the BBC accepted that its own checks fell short. Oversight failures and mistakes The review revealed that three Hoyo staff were aware the narrator's father held the position of deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas-run Gaza government. This crucial detail had not been disclosed to the BBC. The report criticised the BBC for not undertaking 'sufficiently proactive' editorial checks and highlighted a 'lack of critical oversight of unanswered or partially answered questions' before broadcast. It also concluded that while the narrator's scripted part did not breach impartiality, using a child narrator was 'not appropriate' under the circumstances. Ofcom launches investigation Broadcast regulator Ofcom has announced its own inquiry, stating it will investigate whether the documentary misleadingly presented facts, in breach of rules requiring factual content to be accurate. 'Having examined the BBC's findings, we are launching an investigation under our rule which states that factual programmes must not materially mislead the audience," an Ofcom spokesperson was quoted as saying to the BBC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo BBC's response BBC News CEO Deborah Turness told Radio 4's The World at One that the organisation is 'owning where we have made mistakes, finding out what went wrong, acting on the findings, and we've said we're sorry.' She said that BBC staff overseeing the documentary 'should have known about the boy's position before transmission.' The BBC has introduced new steps to improve oversight after the review. These include creating a new director role on the BBC News board to oversee long documentaries, issuing fresh guidance to check narrators more carefully in sensitive news programmes, and starting a new approval process to spot any problems before programmes are made. Director‑general Tim Davie acknowledged 'a significant failing in relation to accuracy' and said the BBC would pursue accountability and implement reforms immediately. He added: 'We will now take action on two fronts. Fair, clear and appropriate actions to ensure proper accountability and the immediate implementation of steps to prevent such errors being repeated.' Hoyo Films responds Hoyo Films issued an apology and said it took the reviewer's findings 'extremely seriously'. It welcomed evidence showing 'no inappropriate influence on the content of the documentary from any third party' and said it would collaborate with the BBC to possibly re-edit some material for archive purposes. Media watchdog against antisemitism criticised the BBC's reforms as insufficient, saying: 'The report says nothing we didn't already know… The report yields no new insight, and almost reads like it's trying to exonerate the BBC.' The review was conducted by Peter Johnston, the BBC's director of editorial complaints and reviews, who examined around 5,000 documents and 150 hours of footage from the ten‑month production.
The National
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The National
BBC breached editorial guidelines in Gaza documentary, review finds
An independent review commissioned by the corporation found that Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone breached editorial guideline 3.3.17 on accuracy by failing to disclose to audiences the 'critical information' of the role the 13-year-old's father had within the Hamas-run government, the BBC said. The corporation said the report found nobody at the BBC knew of the father's position when the documentary first aired on February 17, but three people at Hoyo Films, the independent production company which produced the film, were aware. It added that the report does not find that the production company misled the corporation, but does find that the firm bears most of the responsibility for the failure. BBC Director-General Tim Davie apologised for a 'significant failing' in relation to the documentary and pledged the corporation would take action to prevent it happening again. READ MORE: BBC slated for pushing small boat crossings as top Scottish story He said: 'Peter Johnston's report identifies a significant failing in relation to accuracy in this documentary. I thank him for his thorough work and I am sorry for this failing. 'We will now take action on two fronts – fair, clear and appropriate actions to ensure proper accountability and the immediate implementation of steps to prevent such errors being repeated.' The independent production company behind the Gaza documentary that featured the son of a Hamas official has apologised and said it is working with the BBC to see if the film can be made available on the iPlayer again. The BBC came under fire for removing the documentary from iPlayer completely after the revelation. Narrator Abdullah told Middle East Eye he had hoped that the documentary could 'spread the message of the suffering that children in Gaza witness'. He said he holds the corporation responsible for his fate. 'It was pretty disappointing and sad to see this backlash against me and my family, and this harassment," he said. READ MORE: Arms firms are buying exclusive access to MPs for as little as £1499 'Some anonymous people, let's say, had tried to hide the true suffering of Gaza's children by attacking me and my family." The young boy stressed that he feared for his safety and spoke out about the 'mental pressure' he was under – adding that he held the BBC responsible. Ex-BBC journalist Karishma Patel accused the BBC of a 'shocking abdication of responsibility', saying its rules on child safeguarding had 'fallen by the wayside'. The BBC also axed another documentary film while the review into How to Survive a Warzone was being carried out. Gaza: Doctors Under Attack explored the destruction of the health service in Gaza under Israel's brutal bombardment, but it was pulled by the BBC because of "impartiality" concerns. It ended up being broadcast on Channel 4, despite having been commissioned by the BBC. A statement from Hoyo Films said: 'We take the findings in Peter Johnston's report on Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone extremely seriously and apologise for the mistake that resulted in a breach of the (BBC) editorial guidelines. 'We are pleased that the report found that there was no evidence of inappropriate influence on the content of the documentary from any third party. 'We appreciate the rigorous nature of this investigation, and its findings that Hoyo Films did not intentionally mislead the BBC, that there were no other breaches of the editorial guidelines in the programme, and that there was no evidence to suggest that the programme funds were spent other than for reasonable, production-related purposes. 'Hoyo Films welcomes the report's recommendations and hope they will improve processes and prevent similar problems in the future. 'We are working closely with the BBC to see if we can find an appropriate way to bring back to iPlayer the stories of those featured in the programme. 'Our team in Gaza risked their lives to document the devastating impact of war on children. 'Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone remains a vital account, and our contributors, who have no say in the conflict, deserve to have their voices heard.'
