MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report

MasterChef presenter John Torode says an allegation he used "racial language" was upheld in a report as part of a review into the behaviour of his former co-presenter Gregg Wallace.

The report, led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated.

There were also two standalone allegations made against other people, including one for using racist language.

The latest disclosure relating to MasterChef coincides with the release of the BBC's annual report today, in which the corporation will disclose the pay of its top talent, but also face questions over its Glastonbury coverage and a controversial Gaza documentary.

In a statement posted on his Instagram page, Torode elaborated on the allegations against him but insisted that he had "no recollection of the incident" and said he "did not believe that it happened".

He commented: "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 in 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."

Read more:
Driver jailed after cocaine haul discovered following car chase
Four people killed in Essex plane crash

Wallace, 60, said he was "deeply sorry" for causing any distress, and never set out to "harm or humiliate".

While the majority of the substantiated claims related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, one related to "unwanted physical contact", and three were about being "in a state of undress".

The report said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace's return to MasterChef "untenable".

In a statement on Monday, Wallace said "some of [his] humour and language missed the mark", but he said, after nearly 20 years on MasterChef, "I now see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I've only recently begun to understand, may have been misread".

Wallace, who said a "late autism diagnosis" had helped him understand how he is "perceived", criticised the BBC, saying the corporation had left him "exposed to trial by media".

"This has been brutal," he said.

(c) Sky News 2025: MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report