.jpg?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800 "Justin Timberlake shares Lyme disease diagnosis after concert backlash – UK Times")
A contestant from the new series of MasterChef has reportedly been edited out after she objected to the show, which features sacked hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode, being broadcast.
Sarah Shafi, a management development partner for St John Ambulance from Leeds, is said to have told the producers of the show that airing it would send the wrong message to women following the misconduct allegations against Wallace.
Although Shafi had initially rejected an offer by MasterChef producers Banijay to edit her out of the episode in which she appears, she later reversed her decision after it was announced that the BBC would be airing the show from 6 August.
Speaking to the Guardian, Shafi said: “I didn’t say, ‘edit me out’. I said: ‘Axe the show, don’t air the show. I’m asking you not to air the show.’ Prominent figures have been abusing their power. What message does that send out to women?”
A report published earlier this month upheld 45 of 83 allegations against Wallace, including one of unwelcome physical contact. Several claims of inappropriate sexual language and humour were substantiated.
Torode was dropped shortly afterwards after an allegation of racist language used by the chef was substantiated during the investigation into Wallace’s behaviour.
Shafi claims that after the accusations against Wallace emerged, she had “quite a heated conversation” with a producer from Banijay. The 57-year-old says that she was “flabbergasted” after being told about the “potential solution” to edit her out of the show.
She added: “I said I am completely against this airing of the show. I object to it strongly. This is the principle I’m standing by. I’m objecting to the show being aired, not about me being in it.”
Shafi also suggested that MasterChef make a special episode that is dedicated to the alleged victims, which “excludes those prominent figures” and “focuses on the talent”.
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.
Upon announcing that the series would be shown, a BBC spokesperson said: “After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef.”
The corporation acknowledged that “not everyone will agree” with what it recognised as a difficult decision.
In a statement given to The Independent, the BBC said: “As we said when we announced the show would be aired, this was not an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone would agree with it. Banijay consulted with all the contestants before that decision was made and there was widespread support for it going ahead. We are sorry that this contestant does not support the decision and we are grateful she raised this with both the BBC and Banijay.”
A spokesperson for Banijay said in a separate statement: “We are sorry that Sarah does not support the decision to air this series of MasterChef. We carefully considered her concerns about broadcasting the series and discussed them with the BBC. However, having consulted with all contributors in the series ahead of the decision being made, the resounding feeling from those taking part was support for airing the series.”
In response to the report, Wallace said he is “deeply sorry for any distress” caused by the findings and that he “never set out to harm or humiliate” anyone with his behaviour.
The host also said in a lengthy statement released on Instagram that he had been formally diagnosed with autism, and suggested that his neurodiversity was “suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons” of the show.
