MasterChef star John Torode was sacked from the BBC show along with his co-host Gregg Wallace, who has been the subject of a number of sexual misconduct allegations
John Torode found one aspect of his partnership with Gregg Wallace particularly challenging, according to a journalist who interviewed the MasterChef star.
Wallace was dismissed from the long-standing BBC show after 45 allegations made against him were substantiated. Shortly afterwards, his co-host John was informed that his contract would not be renewed following an inquiry that discovered he had used offensive racist language several years ago.
Stories about the duo have since surfaced following their dismissals, with one journalist recalling his encounter with Torode. Michael Odell from The Times has interviewed the Australian twice.
He penned: “The first time I met Torode was in 2022 and he described dealing with his former MasterChef presenting partner Gregg Wallace and his early morning phone calls. It was clear that being woken up at 6am by Wallace in Duracell Bunny ‘let’s get to work!’ mode was not easy.”
Michael also noted a recurring theme in both his interviews. He elaborated: “Both times I came away thinking, ‘Why am I not as nice as John Torode?'”
Despite appearing close on the BBC show, the pair have previously disclosed their less-than-amicable relationship off camera. Torode once told the Mirror: “It’s funny, we’ve never been friends. We’ve not been to each other’s houses.
“If we go away to somewhere like South Africa,” he continued, “we do things separately … If we do go out for a drink, I’ll invariably be at one end of a big old table and he’ll be at the other.”
During their 20-year on-screen partnership, Torode and Wallace have had their fair share of disagreements, which have sometimes escalated into “massive fights” over decisions regarding contestants. These disputes have occasionally continued even after filming had wrapped up.
Torode admitted: “We’ve had a couple of standoffs over the years. I’ve just had to walk away from him.”
In contrast, Wallace seemed unaware of the tension, telling ITV’s Lorraine in 2017: “I film with John six or seven months of the year, so we are very close to each other physically, and emotionally we are very close to each other.”
A behind-the-scenes source revealed to BBC News: “Clearly they had a good chemistry when the cameras were rolling. But you rarely saw them interact when the cameras were off.”
Wallace has since apologised for some of his on-set behaviour, stating that he is “so sorry” to anyone who was upset by his actions. However, he maintains that he is “not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher”.
Meanwhile, Torode, 60, has denied allegations of using racist language in the past, claiming he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe it occurred. Despite their uncertain future, Wallace and Torode will still grace our screens a few more times.
After much deliberation, the BBC has decided to broadcast their final season together from August 6, and may also air a series of Celebrity MasterChef and a Christmas special that are reportedly already filmed.
However, some editing tweaks might have been made to minimise the screen time of the duo. A spokesperson for the BBC stated: “MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey.
“This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it.
“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. 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.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
