Latest news with #Thomasina
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
MasterChef winner furiously accuses BBC of leaving John Torode 'hung out to dry'
MasterChef star Thomasina Miers has hit out at the BBC for sacking host John Torode after racist accusation back in 2018 was upheld by broadcaster following investigation Thomasina Miers has achieved great success since being crowned winner of MasterChef in 2005 under the judgement of John Torode and Gregg Wallace. At the time of winning the coveted trophy, both John and Gregg were held in great esteem by the amateur chefs and production staff. But now, both presenters have had their careers blighted by upheld accusations and have been sacked by the BBC following an investigation into their use of offensive language and inappropriate behaviour. It comes after John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner broke her silence after his MasterChef sacking. Since news of their sacking emerged, Thomasina, 49, has finally broken her silence and has come out in support of John Torode as she believes he was "hung out to dry", by the broadcaster. John was sacked from his role on the show after he was accused of using a racist term. The term was allegedly made while on set in 2018 and the show's production company deemed the term as "seriously offensive." In an interview with The Sunday Times, Thomasina said: "I cannot believe that John got hung out to dry like that. Twenty years of his life of dedicated service. John is like the least racist person I've ever met … I just don't get it." Gregg was also sacked over inappropriate behaviour and his use of sexual jokes. And while Thomasina only felt compelled to comment on John, she seems to have an understanding of "smutty" jokes in the kitchen. She continued: "I have a really smutty sense of humour so God knows what the BBC would make of some of the banter we have. I don't think they'd approve but we have a lot of fun in the kitchens." She added: "Obviously you can't be making other people feel uncomfortable, but equally I think you have to have fun and be able to have a joke … The kitchen is notoriously full of innuendo and double meanings." Thomasina is the owner of restaurant chain Wahaca. After much deliberation, the BBC decided to air this year's series which was filmed before both presenters were told to step down from their role. However, the episodes were edited in a desperate bid to show a reduced amount of interaction between the amateur chef and the show hosts. And according to reports two contestants asked to be edited out of the series. Reflecting on her time on the show twenty years ago, Thomasina said the show has a special place in her heart as it was the first time she was told she was good at cooking. She added: "It was the first time someone said, 'You're really good at this, this is what you should be doing', I went to quite an academic school [St Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith, west London], so being a chef felt not like a proper career." In her restaurants, loyalty from her long-term staff is rewarded with either a month long sabbatical or a trip to Mexico. She said: "We have really good parties. You've got to have fun at work. I'm obviously not condoning any kind of inappropriate behaviour … but if you are, you know, good friends, you just have fun. Kitchens are notorious for smutty behaviour but it's fun, light-weight."
Spectator
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
With Thomasina Miers, co-founder of Wahaca
Thomasina Miers is a chef, writer and restaurateur who co-founded Wahaca – the award-winning restaurant group that brought bold, sustainable Mexican street food to the UK. Her new book, Mexican Table, is out in August. On the podcast, Thomasina tells Lara about early memories of stirring onion with her mother, why she moved her family across the world to live in Mexico, and why bread is the ultimate comfort food.
