Masterchef host says he found out about sacking from reading media reports
The celebrity chef, 59, said he had not heard from the BBC or the production company Banijay UK.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie condemned the "serious racist term" and affirmed the BBC's commitment to upholding its values.
The allegation was substantiated by an independent investigation conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, commissioned by production company Banijay UK.
Both the BBC and Banijay UK have stated they will not tolerate racist language and are firm on the decision not to renew Torode's contract.
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What John Torode said was 'so serious' BBC boss can't repeat it
MasterChef host John Torode was axed from his role on the BBC cooking show last night following claims he made a 'serious racist remark' while working on the programme John Torode's career has crumbled with the presenter axed from his lucrative and long-standing role on MasterChef for using a "serious racist term". The TV chef, 59, has insisted he does not remember saying the "offensive" remark, which he is said to have made eight years ago. The presenter said he only learned about his sacking for using it through the BBC News website. The claim came to light following an investigation into the misconduct of his MasterChef co-star Gregg Wallace. The report stated that two other people had substantiated claims about them. Torode tjem outed himself as the individual accused of using a racist comment, which is said to be from 2018. Lawyers Lewis Silkin have upheld the complaint against Torode, and 45 out of 83 accusations against Wallace were corroborated. Torode was sacked from MasterChef last night as he follows Wallace out the door. In awkward timing - the MasterChef scandal erupted during the release of the BBC's annual report yesterday. Naturally, during the Q&A that followed, BBC Director General Tim Davie was grilled on the future on the show and what happen to Torode after he outed himself for making a racist remark. At one point, top boss Davie insisted the slur was so severe he was not prepared to repeat it when asked by journalists. Asked exactly what Torode said, Mr Davie last night replied: "I'm not going to give you the exact term, because I think, frankly it was serious racist term, a serious racist term, which does not get to be acceptable in any way, shape or form." In relation to MasterChef's future, the BBC boss continued: "I absolutely think it does (have a future), 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." Torode took to his Instagram late last night to address the scandal. 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. 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. JOHN TORODE." A statement from Banijay UK said on Tuesday evening: "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." The BBC also 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. 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.'
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How to get Ellie Goulding's arms: The 3, 20-minute workouts that will tone flab fast for strappy top weather
IT was all eyes on centre-court at Wimbledon last week. But one of the most distracting of celebs in attendance this year was Ellie Goulding. Namely, the singer's bronzed, svelte arms that left us thinking - how can we get arms like that? 19 19 19 They weren't bulky, but perfectly sculpted – a testament to dedication and smart training. It's no secret that 38-year-old Ellie has always been into fitness, even once describing it as an addiction. The mum-of-one's love of boxing also goes way back and she often shares videos online of herself sparring - as recently as last week. But this summer, it's clear Ellie has been focusing even more on defining her upper body, as her arms look better than ever than years goneby. As a personal trainer, I often get asked by women how they can get 'toned' arms without getting 'big'. Firstly, women's hormonal structure is different to men which means we simply won't get 'big' without trying extremely hard to. It takes a lot of weight lifting, a lot of food and many years of a consistent routine to get there. Though resistance-based training is the key to get Ellie's look, it easier to achieve than you might think and you can see results within a few weeks. Secondly, being 'toned' essentially means you have lean muscle - this means building muscle and losing the fat that lies on top, so that the muscle is visible. So using a pair of super light dumbbells (e.g. 2kg) won't do much. 19 19 I always say, 'if the last couple of reps in a set are easy, then the weight is too light'. Your muscles aren't going to grow if your muscles aren't challenged, either by a heavier weight or perhaps a higher rep count. So, what does it actually take to shape your arms so they're muscular, lean and feminine? Here are three 20-minute workouts that I recommend you do each week - they are short and sweet so you can either add them to another workout, or just do it alone. Two involve weights while the third is a high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout that doesn't use any equipment - the purpose of this is to get your heart rate up, and help burn fat. As the weeks progress and you become stronger, either increase the weights you use, slightly increase the rep count and/or slow the exercises down to keep your muscles under tension for longer. For the weighted workouts, you only need dumbbells, however you might need a small selection of dumbbells as it's likely you'll be able to go heavier on some moves than others. Don't forget, carrying heavy shopping, picking up the kids, doing housework and even wearing wrist weights when you're out walking, are all easy ways to keep your arms working hard too, alongside your workouts. Biceps and triceps: The front and back muscles on your upper arm The biceps (bulging muscle at the front of the upper arm) and triceps (the opposite of the biceps) are the most recognisable arm muscles. When there is lean muscle, it helps tighten the arm up. Working on the triceps, for example, can help with what some call 'bingo wings'. Do three sets of each of the exercises below. Rest for 30 to 45 seconds between sets and exercises. Bicep curls 10 - 12 reps Stand with a dumbbell in each hand, arms down by your side. Palms should face away from you. Bend at the elbows and curl the dumbbell up to shoulder height, then slowly lower down. Hammer curls 10-12 reps The same exercise as above, but this time, your palms will face in towards each other. 19 Tricep extension 10 - 12 reps Hold one dumbbell up overhead with both hands. Keep your upper arms close to your ears as you bend at the elbows and lower the dumbbells behind you. Then lift it back up to the start. 19 Tricep kickbacks 10 - 12 reps each arms Bend forward a dumbbell in your hand. 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Then lower your arms back to the start. 19 Bent over flyes 10 - 12 reps Hinge at the hips, lower your torso slightly towards the floor and hang your arms down towards the ground, a dumbbell in each hand. Palms should face eachother. Lift your arms out wide, keeping your arms relatively straight, pause, then lower back down. 19 Upper body HIIT workout This time, you're going to work your arms while increasing your heart rate and getting a sweat on. Do each exercise for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 before going onto the next. Do this circuit five times. Press ups Start in a high plank, hands under your shoulders. Bend your elbows and lower your chest to the ground. Then push up through your palms to return to plank. Drop to your knees if needed. 19 Tricep dips Sit on the edge of a chair, hands being your butt. Slide off the chair, bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground. Keep your elbows pointing behind you. Push up through your palms to return to start. Shoulder taps In your high plank position, tap your right shoulder with your left hand. Then tap your left shoulder with your right hand. Keep alternating. Mountain climbers Staying in the high plank position, drive your left knee up to your chest, then step back and repeat with the right knee. Repeat this, moving quicker and bouncing between your two feet. Eat your way to Ellie Goulding-esque arms Working out is one thing, but your diet will also help you to get lean arms like Ellie. Protein is king Alongside your upper body workouts, you need to be focusing on a primarily whole-foods diet, with plenty of protein, which helps muscles repair and rebuild after exercise. Protein is also filling, so making sure you have plenty of protein at each meal, can stop you reaching for unhealthy snacks. If you can, eat some protein within an hour of your upper body to support your muscle recovery. This could be your next meal, depending on the time, or a snack of a slice of toast with cottage cheese or a bowl of protein-rich Greek yoghurt with berries, for example. Cut back on ultraprocessed foods Consistently eating sugary, processed foods won't help you hit your lean-arms goals. In fact, research in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has linked a diet high in ultraprocessed foods (think crisps, pastries, chocolate and cakes) to more body fat. Keep these foods to a minimum or just allow yourself one small 'treat' a day, so you don't feel deprived of the foods you like. As well as this, try not to rely on processed protein-rich foods such as protein bars and protein powders. While they can be useful, they often pack in a lot of additives and sweeteners which can sometimes make you crave more sweet foods. Science backed ways to lose weight Calorie deficit To lose weight, it's essential to consume fewer calories than you burn. This can be achieved through a combination of diet and exercise. Prioritise protein Protein-rich foods can help increase satiety, promote muscle growth, and support weight loss. Increase fibre intake Fibre-rich foods can aid in weight loss by promoting feelings of fullness and helping regulate blood sugar levels. Limit processed foods and added sugars Reducing the intake of these foods can significantly impact calorie intake and contribute to weight loss. Engage in regular exercise Aerobic exercises (like walking, running, or cycling) and strength training (like lifting weights) are both beneficial for weight loss. Prioritise sleep Adequate sleep is important for hormone regulation, appetite control, and overall weight management. Manage stress Stress can lead to unhealthy eating habits and contribute to weight gain. Finding healthy ways to manage stress is crucial.
