
John Torode given boost by the BBC on his birthday after shock MasterChef axe
Former MasterChef judge, John Torode, hasn't had much to celebrate recently after getting sacked from the BBC show last week over an upheld claim of using racist language, which he denies.
The Aussie chef, who turns 60, today, was axed from the programme after 20 years at the helm after "an accusation of highly offensive racist language" was upheld following a report into John's co-host, Gregg Wallace's behaviour on the show.
Following the report's release in which 45 out of 83 allegations made against him Gregg were upheld and John was the subject of nine complaints, eight of which were rejected - both he and the former greengrocer got the boot from MasterChef.
However, today, on John's milestone birthday, the BBC has announced it will broadcast the amateur series of the primetime show filmed before allegations against the dad-of-four and Gregg were upheld by an independent investigation.
Both presenters will still feature in the upcoming series, but the edit will be looked at in light of the findings of an investigation, with focus being given to the contestants, the PA news agency understands.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August. 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.
'However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process."
John was sacked last week after he came forward as the unnamed person in the firm Lewis Silkin's report, commissioned by Banjiay, into the conduct of Gregg, following allegations of misconduct.
The upheld complaint about John was "an accusation of highly offensive racist language against", which the presenter has vehemently denied, saying he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation.
It was later reported that John repeated lyrics of Kanye West's song Gold Digger, in which the N-word is featured. The alleged incident is said to have taken place at an after-work gathering in 2019. John is then alleged to have used the word again whilst speaking to a member of the MasterChef production team.
However, BBC News has since reported that the upheld allegation relating to John using the racist slur was not in relation to the above incident. The publication reports the upheld allegation relates to an incident said to have taken place the year before in 2018, in which it is claimed he used the same word on set after filming ended – and the slur was directed at a member of staff.
Meanwhile, it was also reported that John was the subject of a total of nine complaints. There was a single upheld allegation of racist language and eight other allegations relating to different matters were rejected, the Mirror understands.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
14 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Strictly's Anton Du Beke says wife's endometriosis diagnosis is 'cruel and inexplicable'
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has candidly spoken about his wife Hannah's endometriosis diagnosis and their difficult path to becoming parents Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has spoken frankly about his wife's devastating battle with endometriosis and how it affected their journey to parenthood. The cherished BBC personality married marketing executive Hannah Summers in 2017, having first met at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey in 2012. The pair were delighted to welcome twins George and Henrietta following their wedding, after successful IVF treatment. Yet, during a heartfelt conversation on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy mum Happy Baby podcast, Anton revealed that Hannah had grave worries about their chances of starting a family due to her crippling endometriosis condition. The NHS describes endometriosis as "where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body. It can have a big impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help". The distinguished dancer admitted his confusion at life's harshness, as he observed Hannah tenderly engaging with her nephews, questioning the fairness of their fertility struggles, reports the Mirror. He said: "I knew I wanted to be with her, I saw her with her nephews. She's so kind and so caring, I just couldn't understand the universe." Anton bemoaned the apparent unfairness from above, stating: "And whoever is upstairs, if anyone's upstairs, looking down and going 'you are the most perfect person to have children, but I'm not going to let you have any children because I'm going to give you this'. "And I'm going to say 'you're going to have this endometriosis, and you're going to suffer with this all of your life, chronically, and I'm not going to let you have any children. "I thought that was peculiar, cruel, and inexplicable and unforgivable. And if ever I go up to somewhere and meet this person I would say 'I think you're not OK with decisions like this, this doesn't make any sense to me." Anton has candidly spoken about the difficulties he and his wife Hannah encountered during their IVF journey, which eventually brought them closer together. The couple were blessed as the treatment worked on their first attempt, resulting in the birth of their twins, George and Henrietta, in 2017, with their nuptials taking place later that year. In a heartfelt chat with Giovanna, Anton admitted his previous lack of knowledge about endometriosis and emphasised the importance of increased government funding for women's health services. Reflecting on their ordeal, he shared: "Then we went through the process of IVF, well crying out loud. You girls are extraordinary. As much as I want to get involved, all I can do is hold your hand. It makes me emotional every time I talk about it. The injections, the stress, the anxiety. I have anxiety and stress but it's not my body. "She has these injections and the bruises in the bum, in the thigh, in the stomach. And you're trying to help but what can you do? Whatever you want, tell me and I'll do it but that's all you have and it's horrendous as a man to watch it. "You feel so inadequate and you want to do so much more but I can't do anything. And that's why you girls are so extraordinary, you're extraordinary that you do all this stuff."


BBC News
41 minutes ago
- BBC News
Stokes crunches 141 as England's lead over India passes 300
Update: Date: 156.2 overs Title: Eng 661-9 Content: Lead by 303 runs This video can not be played Stokes follows 'towering' six with reverse sweep four A fine innings from the captain. Classical cricket shorts interspersed with some entertainment, too. Update: Date: 12:31 BST Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) England's other bowlers will have to turn up today, Ben Stokes looks in no shape to be rescuing the day again. John, Newcastle Update: Date: 12:30 BST Title: Post Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special It is great to see Ben Stokes back in the runs, his ability to read the situations and change gears, you wouldn't want anyone else to play in this situation. He is very good at that. It's great for England that he's found his rhythm. Update: Date: 155.3 overs Title: WICKET Content: Stokes c Sudharsan b Jadeja 141 (Eng 658-9) And out next ball attempting to repeat the trick... Ben Stokes loses his balance ever so slightly to Ravindra Jadeja and it's more aerial off the toe end of his bat and Sai Sudharsan pouches the catch on the boundary at long-on. Will that be the declaration...? Nope, Stokes turns to look over his shoulder on his way back to the dressing rooms and tells Brydon Carse to continue. Update: Date: 155.2 Title: Eng 658-8 Content: Fetch that! Ben Stokes with a big swing of his bat and he dispatches Ravindra Jadeja for six over long-off. Update: Date: 12:27 BST Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) Do England specialise in genuine all-rounders more than other Test teams? Neil, London Update: Date: 155 overs Title: Eng 651-8 Content: The crowd are on their feet in the temporary stand singing along to the Great Escape. Plenty of folk in fancy dress, doubtless enjoying a few soft drinks before lunch. A couple of singles and a leg-bye off Washington Sundar's latest over. Update: Date: 12:25 BST Title: Post Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special Ben Stokes has called for gloves after diving and his gloves would be full of dust but could this be a message from the dressing room to Stokes. You'd have thought that England would want India to bat before lunch but there's only 35 minutes left. Update: Date: 154 overs Title: Eng 648-8 Content: Lead by 290 overs Bryon Carse backs away to leg and wallops Ravindra Jadeja inside out over cover, but cannot quite middle it. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes is having a change of gloves. A message sent out from Baz to declare, perhaps? Update: Date: 12:20 BST Title: How stat?! Content: Jem GreenCricViz data analyst This video can not be played Bumrah breaks top of stump with Dawson dismissal Early indications are showing this is the most variable bounce of any day of the series so far. PitchViz bounce inconsistency is currently 7.7/10 for today, the highest of any day. (1 = highly consistent). Update: Date: 153.2 overs Title: Eng 645-8 Content: This video can not be played Stokes reaches century as England continue to punish India Ben Stokes has been great to watch today. Update: Date: 12:19 BST Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) As a 50-year-old England fan, I feel privileged to have lived through this period of arguably the very best English Test players. Joe Root with the bat, Ben Stokes as an all-rounder and Stuart Broad and James Anderson with the ball. Steve, Kent Update: Date: 152.3 overs Title: Eng 643-8 Content: Brydon Carse with the joy of six now, as he follows up a four off Washington Sundar with a big swipe across the line which just has enough on it to clear the boundary. Update: Date: 12:17 BST Title: Post Content: Andy ZaltzmanTest Match Special statistician A group of young boys play a game of cricket outside Old Trafford, ahead of the Ashes Test between England and Australia in 1964 Last time England scored 600 at Old Trafford, it was 1964 against Australia and Australia were 656-8 declared. England replied with 611, and Australia 4-0 in their second innings, with the match drawn. Update: Date: 12:16 BST Title: Post Content: Prakash WakankarBBC Test Match Special commentator Ben Stokes on the charge, England really turning it on here with the lead at 273. Attack, defence, the reverse sweep and the lofted drive, that's what they say, isn't it, when you are getting runs, get as many as you can as there will be days when you can't buy one. Update: Date: 152 overs Title: Eng 633-8 Content: This video can not be played Stokes hits Jadeja for four and six in back-to-back deliveries Ben Stokes then dismissively thwacks Ravindra Jadeja for a flat six over the boundary at cover. Plenty of entertainment for the Old Trafford crowd now. Update: Date: 12:15 BST Title: Post Content: Sir Alastair CookEx-England captain on BBC Test Match Special England have been ruthless in this innings and that's what has impressed me with a side that is evolving and learning, especially since there is plenty of experience in this squad. Update: Date: 151.3 overs Title: Eng 625-8 Content: Ben Stokes misses the ball with a filthy slog, then makes a bit of a dog's dinnner of a reverse sweep. He then rocks on to his back foot and plays a more orthodox biff through the covers for four. Update: Date: 151 overs Title: Eng 621-8 Content: Lead by 263 runs More histrionics from the ever-entertaining Mohammed Siraj during an over from Washington Sundar. He (needlessly) shies at the striker's end with wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel not in position. Overthrows bring England a couple more. Siraj holds his arms out in despair. The wheels are coming off for India a little here. Update: Date: 12:12 BST Title: How's stat?! Content: England's highest totals in the last 10 years:


Daily Mirror
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Casualty's Kellie Shirley reveals 'struggling' with heartbreaking storyline
EXCLUSIVE: Kellie Shirley shocked Casualty fans when she bowed out of the BBC medical drama, but the actress admits one storyline affected her for one moving reason A Casualty star has revealed that a heartbreaking storyline left them struggling. Kellie Shirley first appeared on the BBC medical drama last year, playing psychiatric liaison nurse, Sophia Peters, and she made quite the impact. Despite only appearing on the show for several months, Sophia became a firm fan favourite after making Dr Dylan Keogh open up like never before, finding love. In a twist that fans hadn't seen coming, Sophia told Dylan she was pregnant with their child, leaving the doctor completely stunned, with him being vocal about his fears of becoming a dad. Due to his fears, he suggested that Sophia have a termination, something she was initially hesitant about, having felt as though she was alone. But while Dylan was being held in police custody, having been arrested for manslaughter by gross negligence after he treated Thea, who died after a car smashed into a restaurant, Sophia made the decision to terminate their child, having spent hours trying to call him, unaware he was locked up. Things, however, changed rapidly. Dylan soon realised that he wanted to have the child, and even gifted Sophia a bib, unaware that she had taken the first abortion pill. When she informed him of the news, she also revealed she was leaving Holby and had taken a job elsewhere, leaving him utterly devastated. "I struggled with that storyline," Kellie told the Mirror. She went on to add: "I mean, I'd only recently had my baby, and my hormones were all over the place. Yeah, I found it difficult." But looking back, she admits Sophia should have realised something was amiss when Dylan didn't pick up the call. "She knew that he was a doctor and of course, he'd have been in surgery or all sorts of things. But it's a drama, it's a continuing drama, and it's not real life." Before Kellie joined the programme, it had briefly touched on the topic of mental health. "Mental health is so spoken about now, isn't it? And it's so important," she explained. The former EastEnders star continued: "Everybody, since COVID, since the pandemic, has experienced mental health issues. How could you not? Being in lockdown, being shut away, not knowing about your family members. I mean, everybody experienced it." She added that despite the heartache some faced during the pandemic and various lockdowns, it enabled people to break the taboo and speak openly about mental health. Kellie said: "One of the good things about that experience was that people were talking about mental health more, won't they? I suppose that's the silver lining from something so awful. And so for the BBC to bring this psychiatric liaison nurse, bossing it, was really exciting for me." The role, however, also had a different meaning for Kellie, who in previous roles has not had a full-time profession. "And I very rarely get cast as somebody who's got a job, somebody who is a professional," she commented, before continuing: "And that was something that was really exciting for me and fair play to Kohn Cannon, he's the casting guy at the BBC, who got me in the room for it, because I was doing a chat on this thing called BAFTA Elevate that I was part of, and it was about working class actors who hit his glass ceiling, or always up for the same, playing the same parts. "I love playing those parts, of course, I do, but I wanted to be challenged a bit more, and he saw me do this. Talk, and then he got me in the room for this part. So thank you, John Cannon." Kellie has just written and starred in a short film, Croydon Cowgirl, set in Barry, South Wales, focusing on the life of two lonely strangers. Speaking about the career change, Kellie revealed that she was part of a roundtable with Stephen Graham at a BAFTA Elevate event, who offered invaluable advice. She said that the Liverpudlian explained that actors shouldn't moan if they want to play a certain part, and if a script doesn't appear, they should write it themselves. "It just kind of dawned on me that all the people that I really respect have created it themselves. It was a lightbulb moment. "I just started writing with a friend of mine, Phoebe Barron, and we work really well together. We've got three other projects that we're working on. Croydon Cowgirl is doing various BAFTA BIFA (British Independent Film Awards) qualifying festivals, we're developing it into a feature film, which is really exciting!" The actress is also set to play all seven characters in the production, Two, at Greenwich Theatre between August 21 and September 12, with Peter Caulfield playing all the male characters. Kellie, who is an ambassador for Anthony Nolan, is part of the Omaze Million Pound House draw campaign for the charity. "Ever since I was in EastEnders, I ran the marathon for them in 2008," she said. Kellie added: "I went to see the amazing work that they were doing with stem cell transplants, and I've met so many people along the way, at different events, and really seeing firsthand the work they do. "They literally give people a second chance at life if you have blood cancer, the proof's in the pudding. And when you hear people's stories, you cannot help but have that connection and want to raise awareness and do as much as you can for the charity, because without them, it'd be really quite frightening. "I think it's four people every day they help, who have blood cancer and can save their life because of the register." She explained that the trust has five locations, where umbilical cords can be donated to extract stem cells from the blood to offer a stem cell transplant. "There's Kings, where I donated all my children's umbilical cords," she said. Her son, Louis's cord, was used for somebody who had blood cancer. "For the umbilical cord to be used, otherwise it would have been chucked away at birth, which is scandalous. I think you've got something that is completely pure, rich, and natural, and it can save someone's life. "To have these umbilical cords harvested, I know they have to pick certain hospitals that have a demographic that is very mixed, which is why it's London, Leicester, and Manchester, but yeah, I find it scandalous. It's brilliant that you give life, you can save a life, anyone who is pregnant, is having their baby at Kings or in Manchester and Leicester, please consider donating your umbilical cord, don't eat it, just donate it." Kellie Shirley is an Anthony Nolan Ambassador and is backing the charity's partnership with Omaze, which is giving away a luxury contemporary home in Cheshire worth £4 million - along with £250,000 in cash – to raise money for the charity. Draw entries are available now on their website. T he Draw closes at midnight Sunday, July 27th.