John Torode ‘directed N-word at member of staff on Masterchef set as well as singing Kanye West song', claims insider

Scottish Sun

4 days ago

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JOHN Torode directed the N-word at staff member as well as singing it in a Kanye West song, claimed a source.
We reported yesterday how the MasterChef star, 59, repeated lyrics from Gold Digger, which contain the racial slur, at an after-work ­gathering six or seven years ago.
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The BBC sacked Torode this week for using an "extremely offensive racist term"
Credit: PA
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Gregg Wallace has also been fired after the report upheld 45 of 83 allegations against him
Credit: BBC
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Insiders claimed the pair "were never friends" when filming ended
Credit: PA
Torode is said to have used the word again while ­chatting to a pal on the BBC show's production team - who did not take offence.
Torode, who vehemently denies ever using the N-word, is 'utterly devastated' by the accusations and has "absolutely no recollection".
He was sacked this week after an investigation by the Beeb and production company Banijay - which also saw former co-host Gregg Wallace axed for inappropriate behaviour.
However, the BBC has how revealed the second incident was not the one reported and led to a complaint.
The allegation was actually in reference to an incident that unfolded a year before.
An insider claimed Torode used the "extremely offensive racist term" on set after filming a MasterChef episode.
It was allegedly directed towards a member of staff.
And, there were eight further complaints lodged against Torode, which ranged from alleged racist comments, sexual remarks and abusive language towards junior production employees.
But, they were not upheld due to lack of evidence.
The report has also highlighted a complaint against a third unnamed person for swearing.
MasterChef Hosts in Feud: Gregg Wallace vs John Torode
According to the BBC, this is in reference to a senior exec on the show.
The company also lifted the lid on Torode and Wallace's partnership and how the on-screen pals were "never friends" behind the scenes.
An ex-staffer claimed: "Clearly they had a good chemistry when the cameras were rolling. But you rarely saw them interact when the cameras were off.
"And when Gregg was saying inappropriate things like that, John held his counsel. I never saw him step in."
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Wallace unfollowed Torode and his wife after the investigation was launched last year
Credit: BBC
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The investigation also looked into eight further complaints against Torode, but they were dismissed
Credit: BBC
Torode himself admitted "we've never been friends. We've not been to each other's houses", in 2017.
He even confessed to the Mirror there had been "a couple of standoffs" which left Torode walking away from his co-star.
When allegations about Wallace came to light last year, Torode's lack of support was glaringly obvious.
In his brief statement, he said the "thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear".
It was enough to reportedly make Wallace "furious" and led to the chef unfollowing him and his co-host's wife Lisa Faulkner.
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.'
This comes after a source told The Sun Torode is in "a pretty bad way — he's feeling very fragile" since being sacked this week.
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.
But the host was only spoken to by a representative from legal firm Lewis Silkin at the end of June as part of the inquiry into his ­MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace.
A source added: 'One of the allegations is that he said the N-word while repeating Kanye's Gold Digger song during a gathering with his colleagues when filming had ended. John is adamant he would never have used the N-word and only knows the radio version of the song which says, 'Now I ain't sayin' she a gold digger, but she ain't messin' with no broke, broke'. The clean version of the song is the only one he knows.
'The person who raised the complaint didn't say anything at the time. So John only found out a few weeks ago that this issue had been raised.
'This has hit him like a ton of bricks as he does not recall it.
'He insists he would never have repeated the N-word in those lyrics because he only knows the radio edit of that song.'
Those close to Torode have criticised the BBC's handling of his departure, with his representatives only being made aware his contract wasn't being renewed after the BBC press office released a statement.
A source added: 'John is devastated by all of this. He is being supported by his wife Lisa and friends. They're keeping him close because he has really been struggling.
'John abhors this kind of language and does not recall ever reciting a racist slur in a lyric, or directing one to someone he considered a friend at work.
'He adored MasterChef. It was a huge part of his life. To have it all ending like this is awful.'
Wallace, 60, was also officially sacked this week by the BBC and Banijay after an independent investigation was carried out into allegations of bad behaviour on the show between 2005 and 2024.
A total of 45 out of 83 allegations were upheld.
The majority were inappropriate sexual language.
One related to unwanted touching.
BBC boss Tim Davie has since broke his silence on the future of MasterChef following the scandal.
He said: "I absolutely think it does, I think a great programme that's 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."
The Sun revealed that the final MasterChef series, with Wallace and Torode as hosts, will air 'once the dust has settled'.
Meanwhile, Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner has revealed "I don't read anything about us" as she opened up about her six-year marriage.
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