BBC sacks staff after culture review as MasterChef rocked by misconduct claims
The BBC has confirmed that multiple employees have been dismissed following a damning internal culture review, though the identities of those removed remain undisclosed.
BBC chairman Samir Shah addressed the issue as the broadcaster released its annual report on Tuesday, acknowledging ongoing problems within the organisation.
'There are still places where powerful individuals, on and off-screen, can abuse that power to make life for their colleagues unbearable,' Shah said. 'Our staff are dedicated, hardworking and treat each other with respect. However, there are pockets in the organisation where this is not the case.'
His comments followed a turbulent week for the BBC. On Monday, an independent investigation upheld 45 allegations against MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace for inappropriate behaviour, while co-presenter John Torode faced a separate claim involving the use of racist language.
BBC Director General Tim Davie stood by the show, insisting it still had a future. 'MasterChef is absolutely bigger than individuals,' he said, while declining to confirm whether the upcoming series which was filmed before the scandal, would still air.
Wallace has since been removed, but Davie deferred on Torode's fate, noting that the matter was being handled by production company Banijay. 'These aren't BBC employees, but we expect action,' he stated. 'Banijay must lead and report back to us.'
Wallace has since apologised for his conduct. Torode responded by saying: 'I have no recollection of the alleged incident and do not believe that it happened.'
Meanwhile, the annual report also revealed that Gary Lineker was once again the BBC's highest-paid presenter, earning between £1.35m–£1.354m in the last financial year - his eighth consecutive year at the top.
His inclusion comes despite his May departure from Match of the Day, following backlash over a social media post deemed antisemitic. He had been expected to remain on air for other coverage but ultimately cut ties with the broadcaster entirely.
Zoe Ball ranked second, earning between £515,000–£519,999 after stepping down from the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, nearly halving her previous earnings. She now fronts a Saturday afternoon slot on the same station.
Director General Tim Davie received a £20,000 pay increase, bringing his salary to £547,000, which is a 3.8% rise.
Notably, the annual report only discloses pay funded by the licence fee, excluding talent paid through BBC Studios or independent production companies, meaning the full earnings of many presenters remain undisclosed.
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