John Torode breaks his silence after being SACKED from MasterChef over ‘racist remark' amid Gregg Wallace scandal
MASTERCHEF CHAOS John Torode breaks his silence after being SACKED from MasterChef over 'racist remark' amid Gregg Wallace scandal
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
MASTERCHEF host John Torode has spoken out for the first time after being sacked from the show for allegedly making a "serious" racist remark.
BBC bosses axed the TV host, 59, on Tuesday, slamming an "extremely offensive" term Torode used - which was revealed in a bombshell report into co-host Gregg Wallace's "inappropriate behaviour".
Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter
Sign up
3
John Torode, 59, was sacked from MasterChef on Tuesday after being accused of making a racist remark during production of the show
Credit: Alamy
3
The allegation was revealed in a report that looked into behaviour of Torode's co-host Gregg Wallace
Credit: PA
3
Torode was allegedly asked to resign over the weekend and cite mental health issues before he was sacked
Credit: Getty
Today, Torode finally spoke out against the allegations and his sacking, claiming he had "no recollection" of what he was accused of.
He said: "Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay - I am seeing and reading that I've been "sacked" from MasterChef and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of.
"The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong.
"I'd hoped that I'd have some say in my exit from a show I've worked on since its relaunch in 2005, but events in last few days seem to have prevented that.
"Over the past few months, I have been considering my life and the shape of it now and in the future.
"Celebrity MasterChef, which I recently filmed with Grace Dent along with two fantastic Christmas specials will be my last.
"Personally, I have loved every minute working on MasterChef, but it's time to pass the cutlery to someone else. For whoever takes over, love it as I have."
He added: "I will watch fondly from afar as I now focus on the many other exciting projects that I have been working towards.
"My tummy will be grateful for a rest after 20 years of eating, but what a joy it has been.
"Life is everchanging and ever moving & sometimes personal happiness and fulfilment lay elsewhere.
"Thank you for the many years of MasterChef."
The dossier into Wallace's behaviour upheld a complaint that an unnamed person used a racial phrase on one occasion several years ago.
Torode previously told The Sun that this comment referred to him, but added: 'I have absolutely no recollection of this, and I do not believe that it happened.'
It was claimed the BBC told the presenter to pretend he had mental health issues and resign, after he was accused of racism amid the Gregg Wallace scandal.
Confirming his sacking on Tuesday, a statement from the BBC read: "John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him.
"This allegation – which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace- was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin.
"John Torode denies the allegation. He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened.
"He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
"The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken.
John Torode SACKED from MasterChef after 'racist remark' in another blow for scandal-hit show after Gregg Wallace saga
"John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed."
Banijay wrote a statement which added: "In response to John Torode's statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously.
"The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018.
"This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint.
"Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef."
Torode, who has hosted the BBC1 cooking show with Wallace since 2005, was shocked to be told of the allegation — which did not receive a complaint at the time but had been raised with investigators.
The BBC was unable to specify the time or date of the allegation, narrowing it down to '2018 or 2019'.
MasterChef scandal timeline
2005 to 2011: Problems with MasterChef began way back in the mid-2000s, with 27 substantiated claims made against host Gregg Wallace regarding alleged incidents in this period, according to a report by law firm Lewis Silkin.
Most of these were related to sexually explicit comments, although one allegation of unwanted physical contact in this period was also substantiated.
The same report found there was a failure by the production company to retain records of any actions taken during this time.
2012 to 2018: Another 17 allegations were upheld from this period, according to the report.
The production company behind MasterChef investigated an allegation about Wallace's behaviour in 2015 - but he was not made aware of the complaint.
In 2016, the production company merged with Endemol, introducing more formal policies as well as regular training and anonymous reporting lines.
The BBC intervened in response to a complaint in 2017, after which Wallace was then warned to change his behaviour.
2019 to 2024: One substantiated complaint about an inappropriate comment was from this time period.
November 2024: Wallace faces allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across a 17-year period on a range of TV shows.
He steps away from presenting MasterChef while Banijay - the show's production company - announces it will conduct an external review to 'fully and impartially investigate' the claims against him.
Some of these allegations included Wallace 'talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans'.
Banijay UK also confirms it has appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to lead the investigation into Wallace's alleged behaviour.
December 2024: Wallace posts a video on Instagram which claims accusations against him making sexual comments towards staff and guests have come from 'middle-class women of a certain age'.
His remarks are widely panned as "inappropriate and misogynistic', causing Wallace to apologise for any 'offence' or 'upset' he caused with his remarks, saying he will 'take some time out'.
Co-host John Torode says he 'loves being part of' the show and 'will continue to be a part of it'.
July 8 to 9, 2025: Wallace is sacked as MasterChef presenter following an enquiry into his alleged misconduct by Banijay.
In an Instagram post, the former greengrocer claimed he had been cleared of the 'most serious and sensational accusations' against him, ahead of the published review.
He also said he recognised that some of his humour and language was inappropriate 'at times' and apologised for this.
July 14, 2025: Lewis Silkin publishes its report, on behalf of Banijay.
It says that a total of 45 out of the 83 allegations made against Wallace during his time on the show were substantiated, including one allegation of 'unwelcome physical contact'.
It concludes that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour', adding that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated'.
In the wake of the report's findings, Banijay says that 'Wallace's return to MasterChef (is) untenable'.
July 15, 2025: Co-host Torode is sacked after allegedly making a racist remark while on the show.
BBC bosses axe the TV host and slam an "extremely offensive" term, which was raised in the bombshell report into Gregg Wallace's "inappropriate behaviour".
Torode says the comment - which the report attributed to an unnamed person - referred to him, but added: 'I have absolutely no recollection of this, and I do not believe that it happened.'
Sources said the BBC and production company Banijay asked John to resign from the beleaguered show last week and claim he had mental health problems — to which he refused.
He issued a statement to The Sun confirming he was the individual in the Wallace investigation who was 'alleged to have used racial language on one occasion'.
However John — married to actress and ex-Celebrity MasterChef contestant Lisa Faulkner, 53 — believes it never even happened.
The dad of four said: 'The allegation is I did so sometime between 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and the person I was speaking with did not believe it was intended in a malicious way and 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.'
It is understood to be the only issue involving him in the report, though a source close to him said he is 'absolutely devastated to have been pulled into this mess'.
They went on: 'He was at drinks after filming when he is alleged to have used an inappropriate racial term.
"The witness said he apologised instantly, and he was mortified.
'The witness even stated he didn't use the term as a slur.
'No one complained at the time, but it's been brought up during the inquiry.
"Shockingly he was only made aware of the incident two weeks ago and was only informed on Friday that it would be upheld."
What did the report find?
FORTY-five allegations made against Gregg Wallace during his time on MasterChef, including one of "unwelcome physical contact", were found to have been substantiated.
An independent report commissioned by production company Banijay assessed 83 allegations against Wallace.
The report substantiated:
- Twelve claims he made inappropriate jokes and innuendo;
- Sixteen reports he made sexually explicit comments;
- Two allegations that he made sexualised comments to or about someone;
- Four complaints that he made culturally insensitive or racist comments;
- Three claims that he was in a state of undress;
- Seven allegations of bullying;
- One allegation of unwanted touching.
The allegations span from 2005 to 2024.
The BBC called John on Thursday night, followed by an email on Friday, asking him to step back.
He was told to have his answer by Monday.
A source claimed: 'They ambushed him, and it was suggested he quit due to the stress and scrutiny of the furore around the show.
'Obviously he was absolutely shocked and appalled and told them quite firmly he didn't have any mental health issues.
"To try to use mental health as a get-out clause seems incredibly low — and is also deeply unfair to those with genuine mental health trauma.
'John absolutely loves MasterChef, and doesn't want to lose his job because of an investigation into his co-star."
Melbourne-born John moved to the UK in 1991 and started working in London restaurants including Quaglino's.
It was there he met greengrocer Wallace, who provided their veg.
He started cooking on This Morning in 1996 before he and Wallace began hosting the revamped MasterChef in 2005.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
MasterChef judge reveals what it was REALLY like on BBC set with John Torode and Gregg Wallace after working with TV duo for 20 years
A MasterChef judge has revealed what it was really like on the BBC set with John Torode and Gregg Wallace after working with the TV duo for 20 years. William Sitwell, 55, has been a regular on the cooking competition for around 20 years, as an extra judge who comes in for the quarter final episodes. The food critic and journalist appeared on Vanessa Feltz 's self-titled Channel 5 chat show today to speak out on the controversy that has recently beset the programme. John, 59, was axed from the cooking competition in an announcement from the broadcaster on Tuesday afternoon over a historic allegation of racism. Meanwhile, Gregg, 60, was sacked earlier this month after a report upheld 45 of 83 complaints of inappropriate behaviour against him. Their colleague William, speaking on Vanessa, defended the programme and its long-time hosts to the presenter, 63. Their colleague William, speaking on Vanessa, defended the programme and its long-time hosts to the presenter, 63 'I wouldn't argue with any of the allegations, that's not for me to do that', he began. 'All I can say is based on my experience of being on that show for 20 years - and I've worked in quite a few offices, newspaper offices, which are quite harsh environments - the MasterChef studio is the kindest, most courteous, most loving, caring place I've ever worked.' This comes from having seen it from both sides, he said, as both a judge and a contestant - he participated in a so-called battle of the critics a couple of years ago. William said: 'They literally hold your hand right up to the moment the cameras start rolling, they want you to perform the best and everyone's incredibly kind and helpful. 'Once the filming starts, you're on your own, right?! And if you get in the doo doo, that's up to you because that's TV and that's the fun of it. 'But my experience was it was just the opposite of a toxic atmosphere. 'And everything you read now, you'd think it was this terrible violent place of abuse, it's just far from it. 'That's not to say, I wouldn't question any of the allegations, that's not for me to do and I wouldn't attempt to do that.' This comes from having seen it from both sides, he said, as both a judge and a contestant - he participated in a so-called battle of the critics a couple of years ago. Pictured: William, right, with Gregg, left, on MasterChef Of John in particular, William (pictured) commented: 'I feel for him because I think he's a very decent guy, he's a very well-informed, charming, diligent, intelligent man' The MasterChef judge also spoke out specifically on both John and Gregg. The same report that saw Gregg sacked also found John had once used an 'extremely offensive racist term', allegedly during some drinks after filming. John posted to Instagram on Tuesday evening to say he had 'no recollection' of the incident and did not believe it had happened. He added: '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.' A witness of the moment has claimed John apologised instantly and 'was mortified' and he 'didn't use the term as a slur'. No one complained at the time, but the incident was brought up during Gregg's inquiry, they added. Emphasising the lack of clarity about when and how the moment happened, as well as the lack of offence the original person took at it, Vanessa asked William's feelings on it all. He replied: 'I have no idea, it sounds a bit foggy. When he would come in at the quarter final stages, there would be 'a really great atmosphere because you get to know the contestants', he explained 'I feel for him because I think he's a very decent guy, he's a very well-informed, charming, diligent, intelligent man and I'm sad if something like that happened. 'For me, it's a degree of sadness because I think it's a great show, I think it's an important show, I think it's a key part of British culture, I think it reflects British culture.' It comes after John was left 'heartbroken' by discovering he had been dropped from MasterChef online. A source told The Sun: 'He read about it on the BBC News website. 'Obviously he's heartbroken. He feels he's been made a scapegoat off the back of the Gregg Wallace report.' Just after the news broke, the chef released a statement confirming he had not 'heard from anyone at the BBC' or the show's production company Banijay UK. His agent was reportedly called just 11 minutes before the BBC's announcement - and so 'hadn't a chance to call him' before word got out. William appeared to take a swipe at this, when Vanessa introduced the topic of John's sacking: 'Apparently so. I think they forgot to tell him but that's the way the world works, isn't it?' He also spoke on complaints made against Gregg, one of which includes an allegation he once took his trousers down in front of a female coworker in a dressing room, in what she described as 'disgusting and predatory' behaviour. 'He never took his trousers down in front of me', the judge said. 'But what he always did – and I read about this when he quit – he is like a sort of Bernard Manning character, he cannot help but use the opportunity of seeing people to test out new gags, he is this sort of gag machine. 'And I don't get upset by his crazy jokes but I can see how other people might do.' Asked if he ever thought any of the jokes were too much, he said: 'No, because I can deal with it, I'm not easily offended.' Speaking about both his fellow presenters, William added, when asked by Vanessa if he ever saw anyone upset on set: 'Not at all, not at all.' When he would come in at the quarter final stages, there would be 'a really great atmosphere because you get to know the contestants', he explained. 'And I only ever saw warmth between the contestants and [Gregg] and also exactly the same with John. 'So, I never saw anything untoward or ever felt uncomfortable in any of the studios.' Interestingly, William had no doubt the show would have a future, when asked: 'Definitely. 'This is a show that is also in 85 different countries, hundreds of millions of people watch it... 'I think that the UK is one domain where MasterChef is shown. It's a global business, it's one of the biggest global food brands, it's one of the biggest global brands. 'So, the brand itself is not in danger.' William described the creation of MasterChef by executive Franc Roddam in 1990 with great nostalgia and fondness. He said it marked a concerted effort to show off true British food culture - best reflected by amateur cooks, working at home - to its Hollywood naysayers. These pure origins made the current scandal even sadder, the judge explained. A BBC spokesperson said: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him'. Pictured: The statement John posted on social media 'The sadness for me is that it's reflected the development, the exciting development in the food scene...,' he said. 'And it's a shame that it's now under this cloud for all the wrong reasons.' In a statement regarding John on Tuesday afternoon, the BBC said it does not 'tolerate racist language of any kind' and takes the finding on him 'extremely seriously'. The move came after BBC director-general Tim Davie notably failed to back John and said he 'expects action to be taken' following the racism allegations. He delivered the remarks as the BBC released its annual report - an occasion overshadowed by controversies for the second year in a row. A BBC spokesperson said: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. 'This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation. 'He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. The much-loved cookery show (pictured), which launched in 2019, features John, 59, and his wife Lisa as they showcase their favourite recipes 'He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. 'The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. 'John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.' Banijay UK has also now said it has decided not to renew his contract. ITV are standing by under fire John, with sources at the channel telling MailOnline it will continue to broadcast John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen as scheduled on Saturday. The much-loved cookery show, which launched in 2019, features John, 59, and his wife Lisa as they showcase their favourite recipes. An ITV source said: 'There is no change to the ITV schedule and John and Lisa's Weekends will be broadcast as usual and will continue to air for the next three weeks.' It means the third episode of the tenth series of the show will be broadcast on ITV1 at 11.40am on Saturday. There are also plans for the broadcaster to welcome John back later in the year with John & Lisa's Christmas Kitchen in December. Meanwhile, BBC director general Mr Davie has insisted MasterChef can still prosper despite the loss of Gregg and John. He said: 'The BBC in some ways are quite simple on this, if someone is found to not live up to our values we expect the independent company, Banijay in this case, to take action and report back to us on what they have done. 'These are not BBC employees, but we absolutely expect action to be taken.' The director general added: 'I think it's a great programme that's well loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals. 'It absolutely can survive and prosper, but we've got to make sure we're in the right place in terms of the culture of the show.' A Banijay spokesperson said: 'In response to John Torode's statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously. 'The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018. It comes after his co-star Gregg (pictured on Good Morning Britain in 2023) hit out at the BBC after a probe upheld more than half of the complaints of inappropriate behaviour against him as he warned he 'won't be the last' to be cancelled 'This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint. Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.' John is said to have been the subject of multiple allegations before only one - relating to 'racist language' - was upheld, The Telegraph has reported. It comes after his co-star Gregg hit out at the BBC after a probe upheld more than half of the complaints of inappropriate behaviour against him as he warned he 'won't be the last' to be cancelled. The report into Gregg's behaviour on the cooking show upheld 45 out of 83 complaints made, including one count of 'unwanted physical contact', leaving the BBC to admit it 'could and should have' acted sooner on the MasterChef host. The damning investigation also found two complaints about the behaviour of 'other people' - including John - were upheld. While apologising for any 'distress' he caused, Gregg took aim at the MasterChef broadcaster, which he claims valued 'protecting its legacy' over 'protecting people'. Warning it was 'dangerous' to be a 'working-class man with a direct manner' in the world of broadcasting, he said he 'won't be the last' to face cancellation. The presenter said: 'In the end, the BBC left me exposed to trial by media and the damage it leaves in its wake. 'To those who've shown kindness, thank you. It mattered. This has been brutal. 'For a working-class man with a direct manner, modern broadcasting has become a dangerous place. I was the headline this time. But I won't be the last. 'There will be more casualties if the BBC continues down this path, where protecting its legacy matters more than protecting people. 'For my part, with full legal support, I will consider my next move.'
BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
BBC commissions two-part series investigating the Moors murders which will draw on newly discovered documents and recordings in a search for justice
A two-part series from the BBC, The Moors Murders: A Search for Justice, will draw on newly discovered documents and recordings of the infamous serial child killers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. It seeks to expose past missed opportunities while also uncovering startling new evidence which could be used in a new search to find the body of the final missing victim, Keith Bennett. Across the two episodes, author and filmmaker Duncan Staff uncovers a large cache of long-lost legal documents. He is joined by a team of top professionals who, with great care and understanding for the victims and their families, examine the recovered materials and follow clues to hunt down other evidence. The series includes former murder detective and cold-case specialist Martin Slevin and the forensic archaeologist and body recovery expert, Professor John Hunter. Their discovery and analysis of new and forgotten evidence could transform understanding of this case. Duncan Staff, Creative Director of Longtail Films, says: "The purpose of this project is to reveal why this case has never been closed and to show how victims' families have been traumatised for generations as a result. This is the story of how Ian Brady has been able to manipulate everyone for more than half a century - and what should now be done to finally put an end to it." Joanna Carr, Head of BBC Current Affairs, says: "Almost 60 years after Brady and Hindley were convicted, Duncan expertly revisits the case uncovering evidence that has long been forgotten in pursuit of answers and, ultimately, justice." The Moors Murders: A Search for Justice is a 2x60 documentary series produced by Longtail Films for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Directed by Poppy Goodheart, the Longtail Films' executive producers are Duncan Staff and Jonny Young. It was commissioned by Joanna Carr, Head of BBC Current Affairs. The BBC commissioning editor is Gian Quaglieni. IA Follow for more
Glasgow Times
15 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Family of Peter Falconio say ‘weight has been lifted' after his killer dies
Joan and Luciano Falconio said they 'still hold out hope that his remains will be found' after Australian police confirmed that Bradley John Murdoch had died. Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Mr Falconio, 28, and assaulting his girlfriend Joanne Lees at gunpoint on a remote stretch of road near Barrow Creek in Australia's Northern Territory on July 14 2001. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, were travelling across the country in a camper van when they were ambushed by Murdoch on the isolated Stuart Highway. Murdoch was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years. Murdoch, 67, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre last month, according to local media reports. The Northern Territory Department of Corrections confirmed that Murdoch died in hospital in Alice Springs. In a statement issued to the BBC, Mr and Mrs Falconio said on Wednesday: 'Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted. 'We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him ruin our lives more than he already has. 'The awful thing is our family's future with Peter was cruelly taken away. 'Today we instead focus on the three children we have left and our grandchildren.' Mr and Mrs Falconio went on: 'We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died. 'But even now we still hold out hope that his remains will be found. 'Finally, we wish to express our profound thanks to the Northern Territory Police for the support and continuing efforts to investigate our son's murder.' A spokesperson for the Northern Territory Department of Corrections said: 'The death will be subject to investigation by the Northern Territory Coroner. 'No further comment at this time.' Northern Territory Police Force said Murdoch did not provide any fresh information about the location of Mr Falconio's body prior to his death. In a statement the force said: 'The Northern Territory Police Force acknowledges the death of Bradley John Murdoch, the man convicted of the 2001 murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio near Barrow Creek. 'It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains. 'His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved. 'Our thoughts are with the Falconio family in the United Kingdom, whose grief continues.' The statement continued: 'The Northern Territory Police Force remains committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation. 'We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio's remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem. 'A reward of up to 500,000 Australia dollars (£243,650) is available to anyone providing information that leads to the discovery of Peter Falconio's remains.' Mr Falconio and Ms Lees had been driving near the tiny settlement of Barrow Creek, around 188 miles north of Alice Springs, when Murdoch pulled up beside them claiming to have seen sparks coming from their van. He shot Mr Falconio in the head as he inspected the vehicle, before forcing Ms Lees into his vehicle and binding her wrists with cable ties. She managed to escape, hiding in the Outback for hours before flagging down a passing truck. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch was likely to have disposed of the backpacker's body somewhere in the vast, remote expanse of desert between Alice Springs and Broome, covering more than 1,200 miles. Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees (Alamy/PA) Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found. Ms Lees, who returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 that she still wanted to 'bring him home'. 'Pete lost his life on that night, but I lost mine too,' she said at the time. 'I'll never be fully at peace if Pete's not found, but I accept that that is a possibility.' Murdoch lodged several unsuccessful appeals over the years, with Australia's highest court refusing to hear his case in 2007. Former Northern Territory police officer and lead investigator in the case Colleen Gwynne told ABC: 'You mourn Peter today because I guess with Bradley's refusal to co-operate with police and provide that information we needed to locate Peter's remains and that resulting in the prolonged agony of the Falconio family – it's a sad day for those reasons. 'I'm not surprised, just disappointed. I always said I don't think he'll ever speak to police. 'The night that Joanne escaped and we lost Peter, he lost control and as a result of that he felt wronged and angry. 'To gain some control was to never co-operate and have that power over the Falconio family. 'The family are aware that we've lost an enormous opportunity now and they will carry that with them every day.'
