Latest news with #cookery
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
What does the future hold for popular BBC show Masterchef?
Why is MasterChef in the news? The popular BBC cookery show is at the centre of a long-running controversy following complaints about the behaviour of its co-presenter, Gregg Wallace . Though his on-screen persona is of an avuncular everyday bloke, off-camera, he is accused of using inappropriate sexual language and, in one instance, initiating unwelcome physical contact. Other complaints include that he pulled down his trousers in front of a coworker. Then Rod Stewart weighed in. Rod Stewart? The singer's wife, Penny Lancaster, appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 and, according to Stewart, Wallace 'humiliated' her on set. 'Good Riddance, Wallace… You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that part cut out, didn't you?' he wrote on social media. 'You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya.' What was Wallace's response to the allegations? He initially fought tooth and nail for his job. He admitted using inappropriate language, but denied the more serious charges. 'I will not go quietly,' Wallace wrote on Instagram. 'I will not be cancelled for convenience. I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established. The full story of this incredible injustice must be told and it is very much a matter of public interest.' Did he have anything else to say? He claimed his behaviour could be attributed to undiagnosed autism and said that, as a neurodiverse person, the BBC had not done enough to support him. 'Nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years.' READ MORE How did the BBC respond? The corporation commissioned an external investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin into Wallace's conduct which has now substantiated 45 allegations against him, including the use of inappropriate sexual language and physical contact. He was fired last week . So co-presenter John Torode will have to front the show on his own? Not quite. The external report also upheld a complaint that Torode used 'racist language' in 2018 . He said he had no recollection of having done so, but the BBC has sacked him. Where does that leave MasterChef? Up in the air. The 21st season was due to air in February but has been put on hold – a huge setback for the amateur chefs who put blood, sweat and tears into competing for the title. This week, BBC's director general Tim Davie said he was reflecting on whether it is appropriate to broadcast the episodes. [ Gregg Wallace dropped by BBC over doubts he could 'change behaviour' Opens in new window ] 'Those amateur chefs gave a lot to take part, it means a lot, it can be an enormous break if you come through the show,' he said. 'So I want to just reflect on that with the team and make a decision, and we'll communicate that in due course.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain hits out at BBC after they axed her show as she claims 'they will keep you until you're of no use to them'
Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain has taken aim at the BBC after they axed her series of cookery shows - insisting 'they'll keep you until you're of no use'. The winner of the 2015 edition of the baking competition revealed last month that the broadcaster had decided not to renew her programme. Nadiya, 40, later claimed she had been 'treated unfairly' by the BBC in a social media post as she lashed out over the cancellation. The TV personality said: 'I am allowed to feel angry when I'm treated unfairly.' Nadiya has now spoken to Paul C Brunson on the We Need to Talk podcast, as she discussed what it means to be a Muslim woman in British media. When asked if 'speaking her truth' was behind their decision not to renew her commitments with the BBC, she said: 'I kind of accepted in my head that I was very BBC, I suppose it means that they've got me exactly where they want me, I'm utterly unbiased, .. 'And just they've got me where they want me. Neutral. And I am not neutral. I have opinions and I have things to say.' Giving her own view of what happened, she said: 'They'll keep you till you're of no use to them. And I think that's what happened.' After winning the Great British Bake Off, Nadiya fronted several shows including Nadiya's Asian Odyssey, Nadiya's Cook Once Eat Twice and Nadiya's Time to Eat. Nadiya claimed she was never given an exact reason as to why they couldn't commission her show. She continued: 'It was interesting because my husband and I always spoke about it and he just said, there's going to be a point where they're not going to need you anymore. And the second you don't fit the box, like they have a neat little box, when you don't fit that box anymore, there'll be no space for you. 'And I suppose I don't fit that space anymore. And to be fair, I'm not comfortable in boxes anyway. I prefer a glass ceilings to smash through, thank you very much.' She said: 'I was always made to feel like my trophy was just going to get taken away from me. Because as somebody, because I felt like I had to always be grateful. I had to be consistently grateful for the opportunity that I was given. 'A Muslim that was relatable, like the People's Muslim, the people's person of colour, the digestible version of myself. On what's next for Nadiya, the TV chef said: 'You know what, I think I'm going to be the truest, most honest version of myself, entirely unfiltered, with no management, nobody to tell me what I can do, can't do, can say, can't say.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'After several wonderful series we have made the difficult decision not to commission another cookery show with Nadiya Hussain at the moment. 'Nadiya remains a much valued part of the BBC family, and we look forward to working together on future projects.' Last month in a video uploaded to Instagram, Nadiya said: 'I've received tonnes of messages since talking about my situation with the BBC. Messages from people telling me to be grateful for the opportunity and be thankful for how far I've come. 'Now my whole life as a child in an immigrant household, I used to think I had to be grateful all the time because I watched my family always grateful, grateful for being let in, grateful for having work, even if underpaid, grateful for safety, even if it meant silence, always grateful. 'Grateful even when I feel tired, lonely or disrespected. At first, gratitude felt right because it was instilled in me from a young age, it's all I saw. 'But after a while it starts to get really heavy. Gratitude became something that I was expected to wear like a uniform, anytime I voiced frustration or sadness or wanted more, I could feel the invisible pressure, like how dare you complain? Aren't you just lucky to be here?' She added: 'But, here's what I've come to understand. I'm allowed to feel more than just thankful. I am a human being and I am allowed to feel angry when I'm treated unfairly, I'm allowed to want better for myself and for my family. 'I'm allowed to speak up, I'm allowed to exist, I'm allowed to exist fully complex, emotional, hopeful, sometimes critical, just like anyone else. So, gratitude has its place, but it shouldn't be a muzzle. It shouldn't be a muzzle like a dog. 'We didn't come here just to survive. We came here to live, to grow, to contribute, to belong. Not as a guest, but as a person who has rights and dreams and dignity just like everyone else. 'So no, I won't always be grateful and that doesn't make me ungrateful, it makes me human. 'So I've got here through hard work, through determination, through talent. So no, I won't be grateful. I got here because I'm good at what I do. Just something to think about.' It comes after Nadiya opened up about the 'changes in her career' in an Instagram post. The chef told her 950k followers: 'One huge change is that there will be no cookery show. 'There will be no more cookery show. The BBC have decided that they didn't want to commission the show. 'And for me, that was a huge turning point for me because it's something I've done for the past 10 years. 'It was huge, I was already on this steady trajectory of change and I was thinking about where I wanted my career to go. 'And when the BBC decided they didn't want to commission the show anymore, it really did kind of solidify everything for me, and it made me dig my heels in and think 'OK, I know where I want to be".' Speaking about her experience in the industry, she added: 'And actually, it's really difficult as a Muslim woman. I work in an industry tat doesn't always support people like me or recognise my talent or my full potential. 'And as a lot gaslighting and making you feel like what's actually happening isn't happening. 'So for me it's been a huge, huge, huge change for me. But it's one that I am really excited about. 'One that I want to move in a positive direction and ultimately I want to work with people who believe in voices of people like me.' Nadiya has had a very successful career since winning GBBO 10 years ago. Shortly after the show, she landed The Chronicles of Nadiya on BBC One. The same year she was a judge on Junior Bake Off. The following year she presented an eight-part series called Nadiya's British Food Adventure. As well as her cooking series on the BBC, she's appeared on The One Show as a reporter various times, as well as ITV's Loose Women. Nadiya also has written a number of cooking books over the years. Some include Nadiya's Kitchen, Nadiya's Every Day Baking and Cook Once, Eat Twice. She's also written novels such as The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters, Spreading my Wings and Today I'm Strong.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Jersey school joins Jamie Oliver world-record cookery class
Students at a school in Jersey have helped break the world record for the largest ever cookery group at Beaulieu School joined a live online session led by chef Jamie Oliver, as he taught 10,515 people from across the globe how to cook fresh pasta and tomato Guinness World Record attempt was confirmed last week to have beaten the previous record of 6,778 people, which was set in Friis, Beaulieu School's head of food and nutrition, said the class on 1 July had been "a great opportunity" for the school's Year 8 and 10 students to continue building confidence. "Jamie Oliver has done such great work for food teachers and for food as a subject so 100% we were in," Ms Friis told BBC Radio Jersey."It was really fun seeing everybody having ago. We all learned something new and had a great time." Vene, 13, said: "It's a little bit surprising. I've never done anything like this before, but it's truly an honour to be picked for this."The event took place on Zoom, and participants were required to follow along with the tutorial. It served as a natural follow-on from the student's recent lessons learning how to cook in the school kitchen."I didn't know how to cook and I was really insecure when I was in the kitchen," said Vene."But these lessons have really taught me how to cook and whenever I have to look after my sister now I can make her a full meal without having any problems."
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Dave Myers widow Lili 'cannot watch' final Hairy Bikers series
Dave Myers' widow said she still cannot bring herself to watch the final Hairy Bikers series, following his death from cancer last who was one half of the Hairy Bikers TV cookery show duo along with Si King, died aged 66 shortly after the airing of their final series during which they explored the UK's west coast. Ahead of a re-run, Lili Myers said filming during his treatment had helped him regain his "sense of self" amid the many hospital appointments and physical changes like hair loss."What a superhuman effort he made to finish the series. But also, I'll never forget the look on his face once filming was done. He knew it would be his last," Mrs Myers said. When she was told the series was scheduled to run again, Mrs Myers said her "stomach filled with butterflies".The pair had been together for nearly 20 years. She remembered long talks about whether he should film the series, because he was concerned about maximising their time with each other."He said, 'look, there's this project, and if you don't want me to do it, I won't do it,'" Mrs Myers said. "'I know that this eats up from our time, and I really wouldn't like to deprive you of anything.'"He always considered me first." 'Feel himself again' Mrs Myers said she encouraged her husband to do it "because it meant so much to him"."Being under treatment, he had a sense of losing his identity, his hair loss," she said."Can you imagine? He was known for his hair and all of a sudden, this treatment took his hair away."Myers' sense of taste changed which meant he could not "feel the same pleasure" eating food as he had done wife said: "Filming this series for him, I felt that it would make him feel himself again."Make him feel that he had not lost anything, that he was valuable, that he was whole and everything was normal again." King, Dave and Mrs Myers watched the first episode together when in aired in early February 2024. "That was the first, the only episode that I watched," Mrs Myers said."I couldn't watch the rest of it because afterwards he became ill and it was very difficult to watch."Myers died later that month, to an outpouring of his passing, Myers' friends and family have organised Dave Day and Dave Day 2, during which thousands of bikers travel from London to Myers's home town of Barrow, raising money for year's event has already raised thousands of pounds for NSPCC Childline and CancerCare North Lancashire and south Cumbria. The Hairy Bikers Go West will re-run on BBC Two on 15 July. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BreakingNews.ie
26-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
2024 Kate Winslet appearance at Cork's Ballymaloe Cookery School boosts profits
Boosted by Hollywood star Kate Winslet enrolling for a cookery course at the famed Ballymaloe Cookery School last year, post-tax profits at the school increased by 53 per cent to €135,952 in 2024. New accounts for Ballymaloe Cookery School Ltd show that the post-tax profits of €135,952 in 2024 follow post-tax profits of €88,864 in 2023. Advertisement The post-tax profits at the cookery school last year resulted in accumulated profits rising to €3.05 million. The east county Cork cookery school business sits on a 100 acre organic firm where Darina Allen is the majority shareholder in the cookery school business. In April of last year, the cookery school came into the spotlight after Oscar winning actor, Kate Winslet enrolled in a two and a half day course there with TV chef and bestselling cookbook author Rachel Allen. The cookery school usually has on offer over 60 courses each year and the flagship course remains the 12 week long certificate course which runs three times every year. Advertisement Already, the course for this September and January of next year is booked out with participants paying out €16,295 for September's course with the cost rising to €16,795 for the January course. A waiting list is in place for each of the two upcoming 12 week certificate courses. The school is a significant employer in east rural Cork and last year numbers employed increased from 68 to 73 as staff costs rose from €2.52 million to €2.6 million. Staff numbers are made up of three directors and 70 teachers and administration staff. Advertisement The profits last year take account of non-cash depreciation costs of €183,123 while directors' pay dipped slightly from €336,478 to €329,847. The firm's cash funds increased from €944,642 to €988,639. The book value of the firm's fixed assets increased marginally from €4.7 million to €4.78 million. Under the heading of 'post balance sheet event', the accounts state that 'There is a significant risk to the global economy arising from the current geopolitical situation and the impact on energy costs and inflation. The note adds that 'this development will have implications for the activities of the company in future months. The directors are unable to quantify or determine what the extent of the implications of these matters are for the company as at the date of approval of the financial statements'. The cookery school is one of a number of businesses operated by members of the Allen family at Ballymaloe.
