MasterChef presenter John Torode will no longer work on the show after an allegation he used an “extremely offensive racist term” was upheld in a report, the BBC has said.
It comes after a report led by the law firm Lewis Silkin into the behaviour of former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace that found 45 of 83 allegations against him were substantiated.
On Monday evening, Torode said an allegation he used racist language was upheld against him.
He said he had “absolutely no recollection of any of this” and that he “did not believe that it happened,” adding that “racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment”.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, a BBC spokesperson said the former presenter “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,” the spokesperson added.
“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 spokesperson then said: “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.”
Banijay UK also said it “takes this matter incredibly seriously” and said Lewis Silkin “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,” it added.
“Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.”
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