John Torode ‘used n-word directly towards crew member'
The Australian chef was sacked from the BBC show on July 14 after one complaint against him was upheld following an investigation into his and fellow presenter Gregg Wallace's conduct.
It has been reported that Torode, 59, used the derogatory word at a filming wrap party in 2019 while singing along to Gold Digger by Kanye West.
But the investigation by the lawyers Lewis Silkin is understood to have upheld a separate complaint made the previous year when he was said to have used the same racist word on set at the end of the day's filming.
A BBC News report claims the offensive term was directed towards a member of the MasterChef staff. There were nine complaints lodged against Torode, but only that one was upheld for an incident in 2018.
Torode, who had been on the show since its reboot with Wallace in 2005, said he had 'no recollection' of the incident and was 'shocked and saddened' by the news of his departure, adding that he knows any racial language 'is wholly unacceptable in any environment'.
He said: '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 the last few days seem to have prevented that.'
Torode added it was 'time to pass the cutlery to someone else'.
A spokesman from MasterChef's production company Banijay UK 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.
'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.'
'Unacceptable racist term'
Tim Davie, the director-general of the BBC, told the BBC that, while he was not directly involved with the matter, he was 'happy that the team were taking action' against Torode.
When asked to reveal what Torode had said, the BBC executive replied: 'I'm not going to give you the exact term, because I think, frankly, it was a serious racist term, which does not get to be acceptable in any way, shape or form.'
The same investigation, conducted on behalf of Banijay UK, upheld more than 40 claims against Wallace, including one of unwelcome physical contact.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday, Wallace claimed he had been cleared by that report of 'the most serious and sensational allegations' made against him.
He said: 'I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.'
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