MasterChef has made an early return to screens with the launch of a new series that was filmed before hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode were sacked.
The BBC announced last month it had made the controversial decision to air the latest series of the show despite its hosts both being fired last month after a report into their conduct on the cooking show upheld allegations against them.
The first episode was due to air on Wednesday evening (6 August), but on Wednesday morning, the BBC released the first three episodes on its streaming site, iPlayer.
Both presenters appear within the first minute of the new series, but their usual jokes are pared back, and there is less chatter between them and the chefs.
Wallace’s sacking came after an independent report substantiated 45 allegations against him, including claims of inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact.
Torode was sacked for allegedly using “the worst racial slur there is”.
Wallace has apologised “for any distress caused”, saying the report into his misconduct cleared him of “the most serious and sensational accusations”. Torode, meanwhile, said he was “shocked and saddened” by the racism allegation and said he knows any racial language “is wholly unacceptable in any environment”.
The episodes have been released after a contestant, Sarah Shafi revealed she had been edited out of the forthcoming series after she asked for the 2025 series not to be shown amid the scandal surrounding Wallace.
More to follow…
