Details emerge after Australian host sacked from MasterChef UK
The former BBC star is accused of using the racial slur during after-show drinks in 2018. The alleged incident reportedly came to light during an investigation into Gregg Wallace, his co-presenter.
The claims about Torode were reportedly made to The Times by two sources said to be close to the report, conducted by the law firm Lewis Silkin and commissioned by the production company Banijay, which led to Torode's sacking.
He had not responded to a request for comment by the London Telegraph at the time of publication, and had also not responded to The Times.
On Monday, the celebrity chef said: '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 am shocked and saddened by the allegation, as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.'
The allegation came as Richard Osman alleged that Torode had been sacked for using 'the worst racial slur there is'.
Speaking on his podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, the author and presenter also alleged that 'all sorts' of complaints had been raised about Torode during the course of Banijay's investigation into the show, but they were not upheld 'because they couldn't say for certain they believed it happened'.
The Telegraph understands that Torode was the subject of multiple allegations, though only one was substantiated.
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