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Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Celebrity MasterChef star shares true feelings on John Torode and Gregg Wallace
80s singing sensation Toyah Willcox competed on the first ever series of Celebrity MasterChef back in 2006 and has given her thoughts on the show's former co-hosts Former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Toyah Willcox has reminisced about her stint on the popular cooking show following the recent departure of judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. The BBC cooking competition, which was revived in the early 2000s, became a staple of British TV thanks to the dynamic duo of Torode and Wallace. Over several weeks, the pair would scrutinise the dishes of the contestants, gradually eliminating them until a champion emerged. However, the show's future is now uncertain after a report confirmed 45 complaints against Gregg Wallace, including an instance of "unwelcome physical contact" and three counts of inappropriate undress. John Torode faced one upheld claim of racism, which he has vehemently denied, expressing his shock and sadness over the accusation. On a lighter note, during an episode of the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, Toyah reflected on her experience competing in the celebrity version of MasterChef in 2006. Reminiscing about her time on the programme, the singer shared: "I did MasterChef with both Gregg and John and they were divine. They were lovely to be with." Taking part in what marked the inaugural series of the revamped programme, Toyah progressed through to the quarter-finals before viewers witnessed Matt Dawson claim victory in the competition, triumphing over Roger Black and Hardeep Singh Kohli in the final showdown. Beyond her stint on the programme, Toyah had already established herself in the late 1970s when she gained recognition as part of the new wave and post-punk movements that were flourishing during that era. Following a string of chart successes including It's a Mystery, I Want to Be Free, and Thunder in the Mountains, she subsequently pursued acting with appearances in films such as Jubilee and Quadrophenia, alongside stage performances in Calamity Jane. A BBC spokesperson has issued the following statement: "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."
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Art Attack star looks completely unrecognisable after huge career change
Art Attack's Neil Buchanan became a household name when he began hosting the popular children's TV show in 1990, but he looks very different nowadays - 18 years since the show was axed Neil Buchanan, famed for his stint on CITV's Art Attack, is hardly recognisable in recent photos. The artist became a household name 17 years ago when he started presenting Art Attack, a children's TV programme that aired from 1990 to 2007. The much-loved show taught kids how to create art pieces and provided tips for home creativity. Art Attack enjoyed a remarkable run of 19 series, including six Christmas specials and various other shorts and specials. ITV sadly declared its cancellation in July 2007, but reruns continued until 30 May 2011. Now aged 68, Neil went on to present shows like Finders Keepers, Animal Crazy, and It's a Mystery. However, he soon left the television world to concentrate on his music career. Neil, originally from Aintree, Liverpool, was part of a heavy metal band named Marseille, which was established in 1976. The band released four albums and six singles during their time together, even touring America and performing alongside Judas Priest, Nazareth and Whitesnake. Marseille made a comeback in 2009 with a performance at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. However, lead singer Nigel Roberts announced in 2017 that Neil had left the band due to his consultancy work for children's television. Neil remains active in the art world and has his own website showcasing his art collections and photography. Fans can snap up fine art prints from the erstwhile TV sensation online. The former star's artwork has been a hot topic for ages, and in 2020, he had to put an end to whispers claiming that he was the mysterious street artist Banksy. His website made it clear with a statement: "Neil Buchanan ISN'T Banksy. We have been inundated with enquiries over the weekend regarding the current social media story. Unfortunately this website does not have the infrastructure to answer all these enquiries individually, however we can confirm that there is no truth in the rumour whatsoever." The message went on to say: "Neil spent Lockdown with vulnerable members of his family and is now preparing to launch his new art collection in 2021. Thank you and please stay safe." Rumours about Art Attack's grand return to our screens in 2025 have been doing the rounds, though nothing official has been confirmed. The rumour mill even churned out tales of comedian Romesh Ranganathan taking the helm, which he firmly shot down during a chat on The One Show in September. He clarified: "Thank you for asking me that, I'm not. I'm not bringing back Art Attack, what I have done though is been subjected to terrible levels of online abuse," affirming further, "I just want to say to the camera, I am not doing Art Attack. I'm not replacing Neil Buchanan, I respect what he did. I would never step on his legacy in that way! Please stop at'ing me, alright."
