Gregg Wallace’s MasterChef co-host John Torode will not have his contract renewed after having a complaint against him upheld for racist language.The BBC and MasterChef producer Banijay have just revealed that Torode will leave the series at the end of his contract following the report conducted into Wallace’s behavior by law firm Lewis Silkin, which revealed two allegations upheld against two other people that aren’t Wallace.Torode’s contract has technically run down and he will therefore not be returning to the show. After the news broke, Torode said his last MasterChef shows will be a celebrity season he recently filmed with new host Grace Dent and two Christmas specials.“The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously,” said a BBC spokesperson. “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 spokeswoman added: “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 a statement posted on Instagram two hours ago, Torode said he hadn’t “heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay” but was “seeing and reading that I’ve been ‘sacked’ from MasterChef.”Following the publication of yesterday’s report into Wallace, Torode swiftly revealed himself to be the other person accused of using racist language.In an Instagram statement last night, he said he has “absolutely no recollection of this and I do not believe that it happened,” but that he had apologized to the person in question. “However I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment,” he added at the time. “I’m shocked and saddened by the allegations as I would never wish to cause anyone offence.”Torode has presented MasterChef for the past two decades alongside Wallace and the show will now be without its two long-running presenters, with Dent having replaced Wallace and another replacement now required to replace Torode.Speaking at the BBC Annual Report briefing this morning, BBC Director General Tim Davie said MasterChef is “much bigger than individuals” and can “absolutely survive and prosper” without its lead presenters, although at that point the press and public weren’t aware that Torode was leaving.The BBC also faces a dilemma over what to do with the next completed series of MasterChef, which features both Wallace and Torode.This morning, Davie said no decision has been made but his “overwhelming concern” is for the amateur chefs who “gave their heart and soul to this programme.”The report into Wallace substantiated 45 of 83 allegations made against him across a near-20-year period, leaving his position “untenable,” according to Banijay UK boss Patrick Holland.
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