John Torode posts scathing statement as MasterChef production hosts party on day he’s sacked

John Torode was sacked as the host of MasterChef yesterday, and just hours later the production company behind the show hosted its annual summer party. Yikes.

It was announced yesterday that John Torode had been dismissed from his position, after making an “extremely offensive” racist remark. He had hosted the show since 2005, and the comment is said to have been made seven years ago.

Just hours after this was made public, Masterchef production company Banijay UK hosted its “Summer Showcase” event at The Brewery in London. Guests there said any celebrations were completely overshadowed by the news, and branded it “the most awkward thing ever”. Apparently, as is to be expected, the news about Torode was all anyone spoke about. 

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An insider told The Sun: “It couldn’t have happened on a worse day. Obviously it had been in the diary for months but it was so embarrassing for the big bosses at Banijay. It was billed as their big showcase where they show off all their upcoming shows, and they have everyone there from production staff to stakeholders and commissioners from all the key channels.

“Unfortunately, given that they announced the sacking of John Torode just hours before the party kicked off, it was all anyone could talk about. It was the most awkward party ever. The MasterChef situation was the gossip of the night, on what should have been an occasion to celebrate the company’s successes and crow about what they had coming up.

“The big wigs didn’t want to cancel it as that wouldn’t have been a good look, but the powers that be couldn’t wait for it to be over.”

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‘I have absolutely no recollection of any of this’

Meanwhile, John Torode shared a statement in which he said he had “no recollection” of making such remark. He has claimed he doesn’t believe the incident actually happened.

His statement read: “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 between 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. I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.

“However, 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.”

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