MasterChef Hosts John Torode, Gregg Wallace Sacked Over Racism, Misconduct Findings

John Torode and Gregg Wallace have both been sacked from MasterChef following an independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin that upheld multiple allegations of professional misconduct, including racist language by Torode. Torode stated he had no recollection of the alleged racist incident but acknowledged that his contract would not be renewed and confirmed the specials he recently filmed would be his last. The BBC and production company Banijay UK emphasized they take the upheld findings seriously and will not tolerate racist language or inappropriate behavior. Wallace faced over 40 complaints, including inappropriate, sexually explicit, and culturally insensitive remarks, and expressed regret for any distress caused, noting his behavior changed significantly since 2018. Torode expressed disappointment about not being informed personally before the news broke and reflected on his long tenure with MasterChef, indicating he would focus on other projects. Both departures mark a significant change for the show, with the BBC and Banijay signaling a commitment to addressing workplace misconduct.