The controversial new series of MasterChef, featuring fired hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode, lost almost one million viewers compared with last year’s launch.
There appeared to be fewer jokes from Wallace and Torode in the first episode, which the BBC decided to air earlier this week following upheld allegations against the presenting duo.
However, the BBC has revealed that the headlines have had an impact, as the launch show was watched by just 1.96 million, as opposed to the 2.73 million who watched last year’s debut episode.
This is considerably down from the series peak, which was 6.4 million viewers for the 2014 finale.
It raises questions about the future of the long-running cookery show, which already has a celebrity series in the can, presented by Torode and Grace Dent, as well as two Christmas specials.
Fans of MasterChef, which was revamped in 2005, have been left conflicted over the new series, with many feeling uncomfortable about watching Wallace and Torode following the misconduct allegations against them.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Breakfast that she “certainly won’t be watching this series”.
The BBC said the decision to air the 2025 series of MasterChef, which started filming before allegations surfaced against Wallace and Torode, had “not been an easy” one.
“In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters,” a spokesperson for the corporation said.
“We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC.
“However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.”
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.
Try for free
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.
Try for free
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Six amateur chefs feature in the first heat, and a message on the BBC media centre, alongside interviews with the contestants, states: “Please note this information is accurate at the time of filming, certain aspects may have since changed but this represents the contributors as the competition starts.”
It comes after one of the contestants, Sarah Shafi, agreed to be edited out of the series after objecting to it being broadcast.
During an interview with The Guardian, the 57-year-old explained that, during a “heated conversation” with a producer, she was urged to think about the life-changing opportunity the show provided to some contestants.
In November 2024, it was announced that Wallace had stepped away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. He was replaced towards the end of the latest series by Irish chef Anna Haugh.
In July, a statement from Banijay UK and the BBC said they had agreed that “Mr Wallace’s return to MasterChef is untenable”.
This came after a review, published by the legal firm Lewis Silkin, upheld 45 of 83 allegations against the chef, including claims of inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact.
Wallace issued an apology saying he was “deeply sorry for any distress caused” and that he “never set out to harm or humiliate”.
Meanwhile, one allegation of racist language was upheld against Torode, who said he had “no recollection of the incident” and was “shocked and saddened” by the claim.
The first three episodes of the new series of MasterChef are available to stream on iPlayer. Episodes air on BBC One from Wednesday to Friday each week.
