BBC sacked John Torode ‘for using the worst racial slur'
Osman made the claim in his podcast, The Rest Is Entertainment, during a discussion about the exit of Torode and his co-presenter Gregg Wallace from the BBC show.
The presenter and author also alleged that Banijay, the makers of MasterChef, had offered Torode a second chance if he took a year off, but the Australian chef had declined.
Speaking on the podcast, Osman said: 'On this particular occasion, it's not 'woke gone mad'. You know, he used, I think, probably the worst racial slur there is. And they found it to be substantively true.
'They found evidence that they were happy with, that was true.
'He is saying, 'I definitely didn't do it, I certainly can't remember it.' But that one was upheld.'
Osman 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 Torode was the subject of multiple allegations, although only one was substantiated.
Torode has been contacted for comment. Banijay UK declined to comment.
Torode was sacked on Tuesday after he was drawn into the investigation into Gregg Wallace's conduct.
Banijay said that the review, conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, had substantiated an accusation of 'highly offensive racist language'. Torode is alleged to have made the remark during after-show drinks in 2018.
The BBC said Torode had used 'an extremely offensive racist term' in the workplace. 'We will not tolerate racist language of any kind,' the corporation said.
Torode maintained: 'I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.'
After being sacked, he said: 'I'd hoped that I'd have had some say in my exit from a show that I've worked on since its relaunch in 2005, but events in the last few days seem to have prevented that.'
ITV is standing by Torode at present, saying it will continue to show the Saturday morning programme John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen, which he presents with his wife, Lisa Faulkner, an actress and the 2010 winner of Celebrity MasterChef.
Meanwhile, the future of MasterChef is now in limbo. Two series that have been filmed may never be aired if the BBC decides it would be inappropriate to show them.
Wallace has threatened to sue the BBC and Banijay for discrimination, claiming that they should have taken more care of him on set because of his autism.
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