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Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
MasterChef's new hosts 'revealed' after Gregg Wallace and John Torode scandal
With MasterChef set to continue without Gregg Wallace and John Torode the ideal new hosts have been named with the BBC reportedly looked for a 'really safe pair of hands' The show must go on. And that's exactly what is set to happen with MasterChef without former presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode. Viewers will tune in to two new hosts when the show makes a comeback. And it's reported the new presenters of the BBC cooking show have already been decided. According to reports Matt Tebbutt, 51, could join forces with Great British Menu star Andi Oliver, 62, to become the new faces of the long-running contest. It's thought the pair could be part of a "dream line-up" on the series, with the duo featuring alongside Grace Dent for the celebrity version. A source told the Sun: "Matt is seen as a really safe pair of hands by the BBC. He has been in the frame for some time and is now being lined up for MasterChef." They added: "The BBC are keen to bring Andi Oliver on board too. She has been so popular as host of the Great British Menu." The insider claimed it was not yet known if Andi's schedule would allow her to commit to the show, but said those in charge remained hopeful. "Everyone loves Andi and she would be perfect for the role in many ways," they continued. And they claimed: "Nothing is set in stone yet but this is the dream line-up they're hoping for." Torode was sacked from the BBC show for allegedly using the N-word twice. It was announced this week that his contract would not be renewed following an upheld complaint. In a lengthy statement following John's axe, the BBC said: '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.' Wallace, meanwhile, saw his position on MasterChef became "untenable" after 45 out of 83 allegations of inappropriate behaviour were upheld following a seven-month investigation. And despite Torode and Wallace being the face of the show for so long, bosses are seemingly unconcerned about the future of the hit series. TV experts have insisted the series is safe on the BBC until 2028 despite it currently seemingly having a recipe for disaster. Production company Banijay and the BBC have two series of the show completed and there have been many questions about if they will air. Industry website Deadline says the current contract with Banijay until 2028 will continue and bosses are keen to keep the show as it has a young audience they would struggle to capture with a newly launch show. A second source told the Mirror they are confident the MasterChef brand is here to stay "for the long term" on the BBC.
Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Sacked MasterChef host John Torode used n-word, sources allege
Rumours that John Torode's future at MasterChef was in doubt were already rumbling when production bosses hosted a rooftop dinner for screen stars and industry insiders in central London last Tuesday. Top of the menu for discussion was Gregg Wallace, who hours earlier had attacked BBC News for 'chasing slanderous clickbait' as it published a report upholding allegations about his behaviour from 45 individuals. However, on the sidelines bosses were being pressed about the future of his longstanding co-presenter. The suggestion was that Torode could also be implicated in the independent investigation over allegations that he used the n-word. One senior producer at the event sought to play down the idea that there was no future for Torode on the show amid claims that an 'angry and isolated' Wallace could be seen as attempting to sabotage his former co-presenter. Yet on Tuesday it was confirmed Torode's contract would not be renewed with MasterChef after two decades, just 24 hours after Wallace's contract was ended. The previous day Torode had outed himself as the individual found to have used 'extremely offensive racist language in the workplace' during an incident in 2018, after the publication of the report by the law firm Lewis Silkin. Richard Osman, the co-host of the Rest is Entertainment podcast, said: 'He used probably the worst racial slur there is. And they found that to be substantively true. They found evidence that they were happy with — that that was true.' Two other individuals close to the report claimed that Torode had used the n-word. It is understood to have been the most serious allegation. Of nine allegations made against the 59-year-old between 2012 and 2019, investigators classed two as not substantiated and six as having insufficient evidence. On Wednesday night it emerged that Torode is talking to employment lawyers about taking legal action over his sacking. A source told The Mirror: 'John is preparing to launch the lawsuit … for unfair dismissal. He's telling people there is no proof of his supposed comment. It was not in a work capacity, it was just hearsay. John is determined to clear his name.' ITV is understood to be standing by Torode. John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen, which Torode presents with his wife, Lisa Faulkner, will continue as normal. The next episode goes out on Saturday. Executives at the broadcaster held discussions about the presenter's future on Tuesday night and an ITV source told The Daily Telegraph: 'There aren't any planned changes to our schedules.' ITV has never received any complaints about Torode's conduct on one of its shows, it is understood. Bosses at Banijay, the television production company, had recognised that Torode could no longer continue on MasterChef after its findings. However, their primary focus was on Wallace, who was the original reason the investigation had been launched, and had 45 complaints against him upheld. They were said to have been further bogged down by Torode after he was understood to have involved lawyers in an apparent attempt to avoid being dragged into the scandal surrounding his co-presenter. 'In the end it was easier for us to say that's that,' one BBC source said. 'We didn't have the direct relationship with him that Banijay did.' Another added: 'We saw the allegations, we took them very seriously and we were clear it needed to be dealt with. Do you want to drag the show through months of 'he said, she said' or do you just want to move on?' 'The BBC is at an inflection point. You need to bring people with you on that transition and show them where the new line has been drawn.' The writing was on the wall for Torode when Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, distanced himself from the star at the unveiling of the BBC's annual report. Later that day the BBC announced Torode's contract would not be renewed. 'Frankly it was a serious racist term which does not get to be acceptable in any way, shape or form,' Davie later told BBC News. Writing on Instagram on Tuesday, Torode said that the person he had been speaking with did not believe that his language was intended in a malicious way and that he apologised immediately afterwards. Torode had claimed that he only learnt that his contract was not being renewed after 'seeing and reading' public statements, having previously said: 'I have absolutely no recollection of any of this and I do not believe that it happened. '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 the last few days seem to have prevented that,' he added. This assessment was widely disputed by sources close to the situation. They said that Torode had been made well aware that his future on the show was drawing to a close as a result of the report's finding. 'We've been talking to him about this for weeks. He was certainly not blindsided,' said one. The furore has unsettled staff at the production company, with Patrick Holland, the Banijay UK chief executive, writing to offer support to anyone affected by recent events. Reports that Torode had been told to claim that he suffered from mental health problems were wide of the mark, Holland said. Several Banijay staffers said that it had been a difficult period for those who work on the show. One said: 'The right decision has been made and they just need to draw a line under it. It's a very difficult time for everyone who works on the show — the vast majority of whom had absolutely nothing to do with what has gone on.' Davie said that he believed MasterChef had a future with the broadcaster beyond 2028, when its deal runs out. 'A great programme that's loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals,' he said. 'It absolutely can survive and prosper, but we've got to make sure we're in the right place in terms of the culture of the show.' The commitment will come as a relief to Banijay bosses. MasterChef was worth almost £300 million to the producer last year — 6 per cent of its total revenues. Hopes are high internally that Grace Dent will stay on as a permanent host after she was parachuted in as a replacement for Wallace on the latest series of Celebrity MasterChef, which has finished filming. Production is expected to start on the main series later in the autumn. Torode was approached for comment. Those in the running to take over from the presenter Matt Tebbutt: Best known as the affable host of the BBC's Saturday Kitchen, the growing profile of Tebbutt, 51, makes him a strong contender for an expanded role. Andi Oliver: The 62-year-old Great British Menu presenter has been described as a potential 'landmark appointment' by Dave James,an odds analyst at Tom Kerridge: The 51-year-old owner of two Michelin-starred pubs has previously appeared as a guest on MasterChef: The Professionals, along with an array of BBC food programmes including Great British Menu. Poppy O'Toole: The Michelin-trained 31-year-old is known as Poppy Cooks to her 1.3 million Instagram fans, where she has appeal to younger audiences. She may be a long shot but MasterChef's move to Birmingham could count in the Midlander's favour. Nadiya Hussain: An outside bet after the former Great British Bake Off winner's comments on Tuesday, in which Hussain, 40, accused BBC bosses of only 'keeping you until you're of no use'.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
MasterChef stars 'make feelings clear' on new Gregg Wallace series ahead of BBC decision
Production of the new series of MasterChef, presented by Gregg Wallace, was underway when allegations about the presenter came to light, leaving its future uncertain A 'decision' about the unaired series of MasterChef has reportedly been made by bosses at the BBC. Filming for the upcoming series of the hit show was well underway when allegations about presenter Gregg Wallace came to light. The 60-year-old presenter stepped back from filming in November, with chef Anna Haugh said to have taken over the role from the semi-finals on. Gregg has since been sacked from the show after an investigation upheld 45 out of 83 complaints against him. Co-star John Torode was this week sacked from the show after law firm Lewis Silkin upheld a complaint that he used racist language eight years ago. Now, according to TV producer Richard Osman, BBC bosses are set to show the unaired episodes. The 54-year-old believes the decision has been made after producers from Banijay UK consulted with contestants who appeared on the show. The House of Games star however says no decision has been made on the next series of Celebrity MasterChef, which starred Grace Dent. Speaking on his The Rest is Entertainment podcast with journalist Marina Hyde, he said: 'The main one is the big main series and as people probably know, it was presented by John and Gregg, and as they got to the semi-final stages the allegations about Gregg came out and they replaced him with Anna Haugh from the semi-finals onwards. 'Anna is that wonderful Irish chef who is brilliant on everything. The feeling at the BBC and the feeling at Banijay, having talked to everyone who has been on that show, is that they would like to show it. 'They have spoken to pretty much every single contestant and the contestants are saying, 'We would be gutted if this doesn't go out'. It's been a huge deal what they have done, it makes careers as well.' Marina pointed out that a number of contestants from the hit show have gone on to open restaurants after appearing on the series. She added: 'It's a huge challenge and it goes on for a long time so their skills should absolutely be showcased I think.' It led Richard to explain he believes bosses have made a final decision on the unaired series. He said: 'I think, I'd be fairly confident in saying that the current plan is to show that series because it's due on quite soon. 'That's a decision that needs to be made quite quickly, they've made the decision, looking at the contestants, what the contestants would like to happen, and the contestants said, 'We would like it to go on air'.' The BBC had previously said that no decision on the future of the unaired series had been made. Although it did say producers would be consulting with the contestants before a decision is made. The BBC spokesperson said: "At this stage we are not going to make a final decision on the broadcast of the series that was filmed last year. "We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part, and at the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants. "In April the BBC published a detailed response to an independent review of workplace culture, which reinforces expectations around behaviour and that we will act more decisively when standards are not met. "This also requires all TV production partners to align with the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) standards. "We want to reaffirm, there is no place for the abuse of power, unacceptable behaviour or language at the BBC, or shows made for the BBC." Earlier this week, BBC director Tim Davie described the decision as difficult. He said: "We haven't made a decision yet, it's a difficult one, because to your question, those amateur chefs gave a lot of time to take part in the show. It means a lot, it can be an enormous break if you come through the show. So, I want to just reflect on that with the team and make a decision and we'll communicate that in due course."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gregg Wallace 'planning bold new career move' after MasterChef axe
Gregg Wallace is reportedly looking for a way to 'get straight back into work' after he was axed from his role at MasterChef over his behaviour. The report, conducted by legal firm Lewis Silkin, shared that 45 out of 83 accusations against the father-of-three were corroborated – mostly involving inappropriate sexual language and humour. The report divided the complaints into seven categories. Of the 45 upheld, 12 were for inappropriate comments (jokes and innuendo), 16 were sexually explicit comments, three were for being in a state of undress, two were for sexualised comments made to or about someone, four were over being culturally insensitive or racist, seven were over bullying and one was for unwanted physical contact. IBS-sufferers say 'life changed' after using 48p-a-day solution The former judge, who fronted the show with fellow axed star John Torode for two decades, said he was "deeply sorry for any distress caused" and added "it was never intended." Following the results of the investigation, a source claimed Gregg is thinking "he can follow in the footsteps of other people who have lost prominent jobs in mainstream TV" by 'going at it alone' as he searches for a new career path. "His biggest fear is losing everything he has worked so hard for and going bust," the insider told MailOnline. "He also wants to get himself a new agent pretty quickly to land some commercial deals – he's had big endorsement arrangements in the past which have paid a fortune, but it's hard to imagine any big brand wanting to snap him up at the moment." The Mirror have reached out to this representatives for comment. In Gregg's statement, he said: "For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. 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. "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 went on to thank Banijay and fans for their support before slamming the BBC for 'leaving his exposed to trial by media'. He then claimed there would 'be more casualties'. Wallace said: "This has been brutal. For a working-class man with a direct manner, modern broadcasting has become a dangerous place. I was the headline this time. But I won't be the last. "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."
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
MasterChef fans start petition for BBC to sign fan-favourite TV cook as John Torode's replacement after shock sacking
MASTERCHEF fans have launched a petition for the BBC to sign a fan favourite TV cook as John Torode's replacement. The Aussie chef, 59, Advertisement 4 MasterChef fans have declared who they'd like to replace John Torode Credit: BBC 4 John and Gregg Wallace began co-hosting MasterChef in 2005 Credit: BBC 4 Fans have suggested Si King as a possible replacement Credit: Rex It comes as The dossier also upheld a complaint that an unnamed person used a racial phrase once several years ago. Writing online, viewers have put their support behind a familiar face to replace John: Si King of the Hairy Bikers. One wrote on Reddit: "If Masterchef isnt cancelled Si King has to be the new presenter. Advertisement Read more on MasterChef Not sure who could join him and with Dave passing that could be an issue. "Maybe Marcus Waring or a rotating line up thinking Nigella, Marcus, Jay Rayner, not big Zuu etv." "Si encapsulates everything I like in a cooking show, he's warm, friendly and seems to love food." Another added: "Si King & keep Grace Dent. Perfect mix." Advertisement Most read in News TV While a third shared: "Si king and Ade edmondson would be great." A fourth remarked: "Si King is a great shout." Masterchef meltdown as BBC asked John Torode to RESIGN over 'racist remark' before Gregg Wallace sacking A BBC spokesperson A statement read: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. Advertisement "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. Advertisement "John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.' MasterChef - Who could be joining the BBC series? With John Torode and Gregg Wallace now both gone from MasterChef, several names have been suggested as possible replacements. These include: Banijay wrote a statement which added: "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. Advertisement "Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef." 4 Si is well-known for working with the late Dave Myers as the Hairy Bikers Credit: PA
