
BBC bosses are 'questioned over difference in treatment' between John Torode and Jamie Borthwick after both used 'offensive language'
The MasterChef star, 59, has been sacked after allegedly 'used the N-word twice while singing along to a Kanye West song'.
Meanwhile the EastEnders actor, 31, who has played Jay Brown for 19 years, was suspended by the BBC in June after he used a slur aimed at disabled people on the set of Strictly.
But according to The Sun, bosses at the BBC are being questioned over a disparity in how both situations have been handled - with one star sacked and the other suspended.
A source said: 'The difference in treatment between John and Jamie - for very similar incidents - has left questions to be answered.
'The BBC have tied themselves into knots with this - for them both stars appear to have used unacceptable and offensive language but only one has been sacked while another has kept his lucrative salary and got away with just a suspension.'
'Disabled colleagues have been left wondering why incidents of ableist slurs seemingly aren't being taken as seriously as racist language and there are no clear answers coming from bosses,' the source added.
A spokesperson for the BBC told MailOnline: 'Whilst we do not comment on any individual matter, each case is always considered on its own facts.
'We are very clear on our expectations that inappropriate behaviour and language will not be tolerated.'
A video obtained by The Sun in June, showed soap actor Jamie using the term 'm********s' to describe residents of Blackpool where the show was being filmed at the time.
He was reportedly backstage during rehearsals with Wynne Evans who could be heard saying 'Oh my God' when he made the remark.
He has since issued an apology, sharing that he did not fully understand the derogatory nature of the term he used but now that he is aware, he is 'deeply embarrassed'.
The Sun reported at the time that Jamie told a former partner how it was 'not clear' if he would return to EastEnders and quoted him as saying: 'I accept the karma that has come my way due to some bad choices.'
It continued that Jamie told how he was now 'attempting to write the wrongs in my life'. He added he wanted to 'sincerely apologise for the mistakes I made and for hurting you and how I handled the whole situation'.
It comes after new reports claimed on Friday that the BBC sacked chef John after he allegedly 'used the N-word twice while singing along to a Kanye West song'.
John was reportedly singing the rapper's hit Gold Digger when he was allegedly 'caught using the racist term during after work drinks six or seven years ago'.
The Sun claims John used the word again whilst chatting to a friend on the MasterChef production team, who didn't take offence.
The Australian-born chef has insisted 'he had absolutely no recollection' of using a racist term while drinking with colleagues seven years ago.
The person who raised the complaint is understood to have 'overheard the conversation'.
The production pal allegedly backed John and said he only used the racial slur as an 'example' and 'apologised afterwards'.
MailOnline contacted BBC and Torode's representatives for comment.
A witness told investigators he had apologised immediately, 'was mortified' and 'didn't use the term as a slur' in 2018.
The BBC said on Tuesday that Torode's contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an 'extremely offensive racist term' during an evening out after filming the show.
The corporation has refused to say what the racist term was - as has Torode, who has claimed he did 'not believe that it happened'.
But it was described as the 'worst racial slur there is' by Richard Osman, who added of the investigation: 'They found that to be substantively true. They found evidence that they were happy with - that that was true.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Metro
27 minutes ago
- Metro
Gregg Wallace announces charity role after claim he 'used autism as an excuse'
Gregg Wallace is being lined up as a patron for an autism charity after it was claimed he used the disability 'as an excuse'. The MasterChef judge, 60, was first hit with misconduct allegations last autumn, which resulted in him stepping back from the cooking programme. After Grace Dent stepped in to replace him to record the final episodes, Wallace was then officially sacked after the bombshell Silkins review was published. Commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK, 45 out of 83 allegations were upheld against him, including a case of 'unwelcome physical contact', but he has insisted the most serious allegations were unproven. Before the report was published Wallace said he was considering legal action against the BBC and MasterChef production team, claiming he was discriminated against due to his autism following his dismissal from the long-running series. Now, following his exit, he has caught the attention of charity boss Annie Sands, who approached him to see if Disability Advice and Welfare Network (DAWN) could help him to better understand the condition. Last year, the charity Ambitious About Autism dropped Wallace as an ambassador in the wake of the original claims made against him. A spokesman for the charity Neurodiversity in Business also told the BBC earlier this month that autism is 'not a free pass for bad behaviour'. But, speaking to the Mirror, Sands said: 'People were attacking him and saying he was using his autism as an excuse. 'I heard someone say 'autistic people don't make inappropriate remarks'. Well, that's a ridiculous thing to say. Come and work with us for a week, you'll hear a lot worse than that. Each autistic person presents differently. 'This is about what's appropriate in the workplace. It comes down to education, and the ability to make reasonable adjustments.' The boss, who was diagnosed with the condition herself later in life, went on to explain that Wallace's autism report 'screams neurodiversity'. 'We help all those who come to us, everybody deserves support. For me it's about putting Gregg Wallace the celebrity to one side and working with Gregg Wallace the autistic person. 'As an organisation we are not afraid to stick our head above the parapet – he deserves our help just as much as the next person. We hate injustice, whoever comes to us, we will never turn them away.' Speaking to the publication, Gregg said that the charity has been a 'pillar of strength at a very dark time'. 'I've learned so much about autism and my issues in the two weeks that I've been talking to Annie,' he said. 'So much of what she's told me has helped me make sense of my condition – she's made me understand that the persona I learned in Covent Garden fruit and veg market is the same one that I took into the television studios. Everybody loved that version of me. What I've learned is that I still have a lot to learn.' More Trending The former MasterChef star added that he wants to continue working with the charity and he wants to support them in the future. This comes after Wallace recently responded to singer Sir Rod Stewart, who branded him a 'tubby, bald-headed, ill mannered bully'. In an interview with The Sun, Gregg responded to the hitmaker's remarks, stating: 'I'm actually a Rod Stewart fan. 'I've been to see him twice. So that hurt me. Somebody like that carries a lot of weight. But there was no bullying and no harassing.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: BBC legend claims government banned 'shocking' TV show for 20 years MORE: Lisa Faulkner makes first public statement since John Torode's MasterChef firing MORE: David Attenborough's new BBC series reveals spectacularly tender moment with baby gorilla

Western Telegraph
27 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
TV couple Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty announce separation
They wed in September 2012 at a ceremony in Rome and have two children together. They said in a joint statement to the PA news agency: 'We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved. Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley, pictured in 2017, said they remain 'united as loving parents' (Ian West/PA) 'We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. 'There will be no further comment.' Deeley, 48, has hosted ITV's This Morning alongside Ben Shephard since early last year, and previously lived in Los Angeles for more than 10 years. She hosted the US series So You Think You Can Dance, also appearing on SM:TV Live with TV duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly from 1998 to 2002. She also previously co-hosted BBC singing contest Fame Academy, alongside Kielty, and took over ITV's Stars In Their Eyes from Matthew Kelly. Northern Irish presenter Kielty, 54, is the host of RTE talk show The Late Late Show, having taken over from Ryan Tubridy in 2023. He made his feature film debut the year prior when he starred as a budding comedian going through a marriage break-up in Ballywalter, a movie that takes its title from the Northern Irish town in County Down. The comedian and presenter began his stand-up career as host of Northern Ireland's first comedy club, The Empire Laughs Back, in pre-ceasefire Belfast and graduated to presenting programmes such as Channel 4's Last Chance Lottery and BBC One chat show Patrick Kielty Almost Live. He also presented the documentary My Dad, The Peace Deal And Me, about his father's death at the hands of paramilitary gunmen. Kielty and Deeley's first child, a son called Milo, was born in 2016 and their second son, James, was born in 2018.


Glasgow Times
27 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
TV couple Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty announce separation
They wed in September 2012 at a ceremony in Rome and have two children together. They said in a joint statement to the PA news agency: 'We have taken the decision to end our marriage and are now separated. There is no other party involved. Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley, pictured in 2017, said they remain 'united as loving parents' (Ian West/PA) 'We will continue to be united as loving parents to our children and would therefore kindly ask for our family privacy to be respected. 'There will be no further comment.' Deeley, 48, has hosted ITV's This Morning alongside Ben Shephard since early last year, and previously lived in Los Angeles for more than 10 years. She hosted the US series So You Think You Can Dance, also appearing on SM:TV Live with TV duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly from 1998 to 2002. She also previously co-hosted BBC singing contest Fame Academy, alongside Kielty, and took over ITV's Stars In Their Eyes from Matthew Kelly. Northern Irish presenter Kielty, 54, is the host of RTE talk show The Late Late Show, having taken over from Ryan Tubridy in 2023. He made his feature film debut the year prior when he starred as a budding comedian going through a marriage break-up in Ballywalter, a movie that takes its title from the Northern Irish town in County Down. The comedian and presenter began his stand-up career as host of Northern Ireland's first comedy club, The Empire Laughs Back, in pre-ceasefire Belfast and graduated to presenting programmes such as Channel 4's Last Chance Lottery and BBC One chat show Patrick Kielty Almost Live. He also presented the documentary My Dad, The Peace Deal And Me, about his father's death at the hands of paramilitary gunmen. Kielty and Deeley's first child, a son called Milo, was born in 2016 and their second son, James, was born in 2018.