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Masterchef - going, going, gone?

(178 Posts)
ferry23 Tue 15-Jul-25 19:14:57

John Torode's contract won't be renewed.

He allegedly made an offensive racist remark 7 years ago which he doesn't remember, and offended nobody.

The world and how we are expected to behave has considerably evolved in recent years. The way we spoke, the phrases we used and the ways of identifying people are quite different to what they were when I was young(er).

There were terms in use that were perfectly acceptable back then but are considered racist/homophobic etc now.

I'm not sure dragging John Torode into the whole sorry mess has done the BBC any favours. Particularly when they are still paying Huw Edwards obscene amounts of money.

grannyqueenie Wed 16-Jul-25 11:16:06

BlueBelle spot on in what you say and if we haven’t moved from those days it’s well overdue that we do!

merlotgran Wed 16-Jul-25 11:37:47

I refuse to judge somebody without knowing the full facts. I want to know the word, (asterisks can be used) the time and the context.
When Carol Thatcher was sacked we were given all the details.

Mollygo Wed 16-Jul-25 11:52:30

If JT has been sacked for the single reason given, ^ it was a long time ago and he doesn’t remember^
that’s a bit odd. If it’s true, then it’s unacceptable, but strange that it only appears now and with no clarification.

DH suggested that they are sacking him now before the anticipated flood of further accusations begins, or maybe because he must have known about GW, which is important, because it means we are all responsible for doing something about each other’s behaviour.

GW’s behaviour was unacceptable. One substantiated accusation is enough.

I am concerned though, that if only 45/84 of the accusations are substantiated/have been upheld, what does that imply about the other 39 complaints.

Mollygo Wed 16-Jul-25 11:53:52

merlotgran

I refuse to judge somebody without knowing the full facts. I want to know the word, (asterisks can be used) the time and the context.
When Carol Thatcher was sacked we were given all the details.

Sorry I missed your post merlotgran.
I think that’s a good point.

Visgir1 Wed 16-Jul-25 12:01:05

I stopped watching this program ages ago, I couldn't stand GW he always appeared creepy to me.
My DH's chum was recently on a Cruise where JT was a guest speaker /Chef he said he thought his behaviour was inappropriate with some of the women on board, that was only a few weeks ago. After what he said I wasn't surprised to hear he had gone too.

merlotgran Wed 16-Jul-25 12:17:59

As somebody said upthread they all get too big for their boots.
I’m glad ITV is standing by John Torode at the moment though as his cookery show with his wife, Lisa Faulkner is good entertainment. She is charming and brings out the best in him….No competitive, ego driven, willy waving necessary.

The only two men who were successful joint presenters were the lovely Hairy Bikers.
Dave Myers is sorely missed.

JaneJudge Wed 16-Jul-25 12:24:37

it should have been dealt with at the time and put him through some diversity recap training same with the sex pest

Sarnia Wed 16-Jul-25 12:38:04

Attitudes have changed so much that maybe the remark made by John Torode wasn't particularly offensive 7 years ago.
The person on the receiving end has taken 7 years to realise they were the butt of a racist remark.
I sometimes wonder if the faint chink of compensation money drives these sudden recollections of a distant event.
Gregg Wallace is different. I also think that with his greengrocer background his remarks have also taken on a different connotation over the years. Walk down any street market today and I doubt the greengrocer is asking you to feel his plums, with a cheeky wink. Years ago those double entendres were seen by many as a bit of fun. Not now, with so many taking offence at the slightest thing. However, dropping his trousers and touching are wholly inappropriate so Wallace has to go. Can't help feeling sorry for Torode, though.

Granmarderby10 Wed 16-Jul-25 12:58:09

I/we got weary of seeing GW and JT tasting some chefs creations we used to scoff (no pun intended) at him shovelling forkfuls in to his cake hole then slagging it off- tomatoes too red, not quite good enough etc etc then imagined him having another forkfull just to make sure it really was as bad as he thought😂
Maybe just us though….

sodapop Wed 16-Jul-25 13:11:50

The BBC could and should have dealt with this problem much earlier which gave Wallace carte blanche to carry on with his inappropriate behaviour.
Whilst in no way condoning such behaviour I feel that Wallace was employed for his cheeky barrow boy attitude. No one called a halt when it went too far and like Savile he became untouchable.
The BBC needs to stop treating its employees like super stars.

Pippa000 Wed 16-Jul-25 14:51:17

Perhaps this is the opportunity to look at the whole format of the show, its past its sell by date in its present form. Looking at MasterChef Australia, it shows how the format that UK uses is very old fashioned and this could be the ideal time to have a rest and modernise it for a more diverse audience.

buffyfly9 Wed 16-Jul-25 14:56:33

I too think John Torode is a bit of a scapegoat, I always found GW very loud and shouty and a bit rough. I used to listen to him on Radio 4 when he did the greengrocers slot every week. I think Marcus and Monica are an excellent pairing and if it continues with them than I shall watch it.

Casdon Wed 16-Jul-25 15:01:42

There are a lot of good candidates for the role out there. I saw what I thought was a good suggestion on Mumsnet - how about Si King?
I also noticed yesterday that Nadia Hussain’s contract for a new series hasn’t been renewed, as Mary Berry’s wasn’t last year, with no song and dance. I’m on the fence about John Torode until I know the full story.

merlotgran Wed 16-Jul-25 15:11:38

Oh, please, not Nadiya Hussein.

Casdon Wed 16-Jul-25 15:15:58

Sorry merlogran I didn’t mean to upset you, I just meant their contracts hadn’t been renewed, not that they would make good Masterchef presenters. I do think Si would though, he’s good a good sense of humour, and I’d love to see the BBC find him a role somewhere.

merlotgran Wed 16-Jul-25 15:21:13

I’m not upset, I just don’t think Nadiya Hussein would be right for the job.

Si King on the other hand…..

Granmarderby10 Wed 16-Jul-25 15:27:16

I’m pretty sure that Nadiya would not wish to join this show.
She is all about making food and enjoying it.

Diffuser Wed 16-Jul-25 15:28:46

I've just been reading that Matt Tebbutt and Grace Dent are top tips for the jobs. Grace has already filmed a couple of Celebrity MasterChefs' with John Terode.

I like both Matt and Grace and think they would be a good fit for the programme.

Chocolatelovinggran Wed 16-Jul-25 15:35:17

I don't watch MasterChef and have no idea what Mr Torode has allegedly said, but I am surprised to read here that some posters feel that inappropriate language may have been acceptable seven years ago.
Some things were more acceptable fifty seven years ago - remember signs saying " No Blacks, No Irish"?- but seven years back - surely not?

Allira Wed 16-Jul-25 15:55:18

It isn't acceptable but why has this one incident taken seven years to suddenly come to light?
Strange that it has been 'discovered' at a time when many TV chefs are not having contracts renewed.

Now - what on earth have Nadiya and Mary done that their contracts aren't being renewed? 😯

Mollygo Wed 16-Jul-25 16:07:05

Now - what on earth have Nadiya and Mary done that their contracts aren't being renewed?
Cost cutting perhaps?

Ilovedogs22 Wed 16-Jul-25 16:52:49

It's quite discombobulating when one of the best television programmes on the box is taken off air,so suddenly! Especially as Masterchef was so engrossing & great TV for all the family, both old & young.
I hope it gets sorted-out very soon but I hold-out few hopes
for that happening really.
If the producers have to cast a new pairing, please don't let it be either the massively irritating Grace Dent or the charmless-monotone Monica Galeti!
I have to turn -over the channels whenever either of those 2 irritants pop-up. 🤔

Doodledog Wed 16-Jul-25 19:16:52

I don't understand how JT can simultaneously fail to remember the alleged incident and remember that he apologised and that his apology was accepted. Both things can't be true, can they?

sodapop Wed 16-Jul-25 19:23:13

Si King for me too please. Not the supremely irritating Mary Berry.

Galaxy Wed 16-Jul-25 19:26:57

I think the actual allegation says he used a racist term but apologised straight away, whereas he is saying he can't remember the incident at all. Or at least that is the sense I made of it.