It is the word that cost John Torode his highly lucrative role as the face of MasterChef after two decades. So, what could the 59-year-old have uttered that was deemed so offensive it warranted his dismissal?
Since Torode outed himself on Monday night as the individual found to have used ‘extremely offensive racist language’ seven years ago in an inquiry into separate allegations against his co-host Gregg Wallace, that has been the question sparking feverish speculation among MasterChef fans and television insiders.
Last night, it seemed they got their answer: multiple sources ‘close to the report’ claimed the offending term was the N-word.
Yet both the BBC and MasterChef’s production company Banijay steadfastly refuse to reveal exactly what the n chef is accused of saying. And Torode himself insists he has no recollection of using such language. His representatives have declined to clarify.
One theory is that the term has been kept under wraps because neither the BBC nor Banijay are willing to repeat such a potent racial slur.
But another explanation is emerging. A well-placed source tells me that disclosing the precise word could expose MasterChef producers to legal action from Torode – particularly given that the alleged remark was made informally, after work, and more than seven years ago.
And with no appetite for a high-profile court battle, the decision was made to keep the details deliberately vague. Even so, the embattled presenter is rumoured to be considering legal action against both the BBC and Banijay. If he does, as one close friend put it to me: ‘Who can blame him?’
What has infuriated Team Torode, I am told, is the ‘complete lack of detail’ from an investigation that began seven months ago – initially launched to probe the behaviour of his co-host Wallace, 60, who has since been banned from working at the BBC.
John Torode and Gregg Wallace have both been axed from the BBC show MasterChef following complaints regarding their behaviour while filming
But ITV will continue to air John And Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, the Saturday morning cooking show he co-hosts with wife Lisa Faulkner
One friend of Torode’s told me: ‘This has all the hallmarks of a witch hunt and has left a very bitter taste. No one even made a complaint at the time. This has all come from a witness.
‘There is a suspicion the BBC felt MasterChef had become a bit too male, pale and stale, and this accusation was the perfect opportunity to give John the boot.’
So what exactly do we know about the allegation against Torode? While a staggering 45 complaints were upheld against Wallace – ranging from unwanted physical contact to bullying and sexual innuendo – there was just one upheld against Torode.
When the executive summary of the investigation, conducted by top law firm Lewis Silkin, was published on Monday, Torode was not even named. It simply stated that, outside of the Gregg Wallace complaints, ‘10 standalone allegations were made against other people, 2 of which were substantiated.’
The BBC later issued a more forthright statement, saying: ‘Two further allegations were upheld, relating to other individuals. The BBC takes these findings very seriously and we have asked Banijay UK to take action to address these issues, which is underway. This will be completed as a priority.’
That same evening, Torode felt compelled to out himself as one of the individuals referred to in the report. In a statement on social media, he explained that he was ‘alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. The allegation is that I did so some time in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe it was intended maliciously and that I apologised immediately afterwards.
‘I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.’ He added that ‘any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment’ and that he was ‘shocked and saddened by the allegation’.
While many expected the BBC to follow up the report’s claims in a transparent, fact-based investigation, what followed was quite the opposite.
The next day, BBC director-general Tim Davie held his annual press conference to unveil the corporation’s annual report – perhaps the most important of his tenure after fighting off calls to resign following a torrid year: the Huw Edwards scandal, multiple Strictly controversies, the Bob Vylan ‘Death to the IDF’ fiasco at Glastonbury, and a Gaza documentary controversially narrated by the son of a Hamas official.
As I watched from the press gallery, Davie remained composed. He made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere – despite the growing storm engulfing the BBC.
Then the topic turned to MasterChef and Davie doubled down. He refused to support Torode and said bluntly: ‘We absolutely expect action to be taken.’
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Pressed on what the ‘racial’ term in question was, Davie told BBC News: ‘Frankly, it was a serious racist term which does not get to be acceptable in any way, shape or form.’
Just hours later, Torode was out, with the Beeb declaring: ‘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.’
One friend of the chef suspects Davie’s motives were far from impartial: ‘It proved to be the opportune moment to take the heat off himself by sacking John.
‘All of this because of an alleged remark made seven years ago, which, the witness said, was not meant maliciously, he apologised for, and no complaint was made at the time.
‘When John was first told about this allegation a few weeks ago, he lawyered up and was ready to fight it with every fibre of his being. But it soon became apparent this was not a fair or just process – the report was judge, jury and executioner, with no recourse for appeal.’
Some say Davie’s zero-tolerance stance stems from frustration over the number of male presenters who’ve disgraced the BBC on his watch.
A friend of the director-general told me: ‘Tim is fed up to the back teeth of men behaving badly at the BBC, and feels let down by these people who owe their careers to the corporation, yet constantly drag it through the mud. He wanted to demonstrate a clean break with the past.’
In fact, I can reveal that during the investigation, the BBC was made aware of eight additional allegations against John Torode between 2012 and 2019. Two were found to be unsubstantiated and the remaining six lacked sufficient evidence.
‘It seemed like only a matter of time till more evidence would emerge,’ said one insider. ‘It became clear it was time for a total reset on MasterChef.
Davie has vowed that MasterChef will continue beyond 2028, when its current contract with Banijay expires. He insisted this week that it remains ‘a great programme that’s well loved by audiences and is much bigger than individuals’, prompting sighs of relief at Banijay.
Last year alone, MasterChef was worth nearly £300 million to the production company – around six per cent of its total revenues.
While the BBC may have shown him the door, ITV is, for now at least, standing by Torode. It will continue to air John And Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, the Saturday morning cooking show he co-hosts with wife Lisa Faulkner, 53.
In the meantime, could Torode soon sit down with his long-time co-star to break bread over their brutal treatment at the hands of BBC management? Unlikely, says a friend of Wallace’s: ‘Hell will freeze over first. When Gregg’s back was against the wall, John threw him under the bus to try and save himself.’
‘Now they’ve come for John, too. That’s karma.’