John Torode has been sacked from MasterChef after a report into his co-host Gregg Wallace found he had used an ‘extremely offensive racist term’.
The MasterChef star announced the finding in a social media post last night, but he insisted it had ‘no recollection’ of the incident and did not believe it happened.
However, Banijay UK – the production company that makes the show – has now said it has decided not to renew his contract.
The move comes after BBC director-general notably failed to back Torode and said he ‘expects action to be taken’ following the racism allegations.
He delivered the remarks as the BBC released its annual report, an occasion overshadowed by controversies for the second year in a row – with last year’s coming amid the fallout from the Huw Edwards scandal.
Mr Davie said the cookery show can still ‘survive and prosper’ at the BBC following Wallace’s sacking after dozens of complaints against him were upheld, along with a complaint that Torode once used ‘racist language’.
Asked about the Torode racism row, Mr Davie said: ‘The BBC in some ways are quite simple on this, if someone is found to not live up to our values we expect the independent company, Banijay in this case, to take action and report back to us on what they have done.
‘These are not BBC employees, but we absolutely expect action to be taken.’
John Torode and Lisa Faulkner having lunch in June as the investigation into Wallace was underway
Last night, Torode took to Instagram to confirm he had been accused of using racist language
The pair ate at a restaurant in London during the June heatwave
The director general added: ‘I think it’s a great programme that’s well loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals.
‘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.’
In a post on Instagram yesterday, Torode said he had ‘no recollection of the incident’ and was ‘shocked and saddened’ by the allegation.
A source close to the 59-year-old claimed he was sharing drinks after filming when he is alleged to have used an inappropriate racial term.
It is claimed the witness said Torode apologised instantly and ‘was mortified’ and he ‘didn’t use the term as a slur’.
No one complained at the time, but the incident had been brought up during Wallace’s inquiry, the source said.
Torode is said to have been the subject of multiple allegations before only one – relating to ‘racist language’ – was upheld, reports the Telegraph.
One insider told the paper there had been a ‘massive cultural problem’ at the show going back decades.
‘For a long time, certain kinds of language and jokes were found acceptable,’ they said.
The majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94 per cent) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018
Torode claimed he had ‘absolutely no recollection’ of the incident and did ‘not believe it happened’
‘There is a massive cultural problem there, and it goes back 20 years, when attitudes and ways of working were different.’
It follows a separate report in The Sun claiming that Torode was asked by the BBC and production company Banijay to step down from MasterChef and then pretend he had mental health issues.
The source went on to explain that, ‘shockingly’, Torode was only made aware of the claim relating to his ‘racist language’ two weeks ago before being informed on Friday that it would be upheld.
Torode was reportedly called by The BBC on Thursday night, followed by an email on Friday asking him to quit.
The source reportedly said: ‘They ambushed him, and it was suggested he quit due to the stress and scrutiny of the furore around the show.
‘Obviously he was absolutely shocked and appalled and told them quite firmly he didn’t have any mental health issues. To try to use mental health as a get-out clause seems incredibly low — and is also deeply unfair to those with genuine mental health trauma.
‘John absolutely loves MasterChef, and doesn’t want to lose his job because of an investigation into his co-star.’
A BBC spokesperson 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.’
A Banijay spokesperson 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.’
In his social media post last night, Torode 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.
‘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.’
Torode went on to say he had ‘absolutely no recollection’ of the incident and did ‘not believe it happened’.
He added: ‘I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
‘I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.’
