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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.

Mojack26 Thu 17-Jul-25 17:56:11

I agree,it's getting out of control! How on earth can you sack someone for something they said 7 years ago!

merlotgran Thu 17-Jul-25 18:31:08

Good Grief!!!
Rylan Clark is now in the running and hotly tipped!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

This is becoming a farce!

Sussexborn Thu 17-Jul-25 18:39:59

henetha

It's so unfair to sack John Torode for some remark made years ago which he can't remember anyway, and possibly didn't even say.
I hope Masterchef continues with John and a new presenter.

He’ll probably be offered a better job by one of the other channels. Unlike his copresenter who was lewd and creepy.

Haven’t watched the programme for some time as it often seemed the “winner” was picked out well in advance.

Casdon Thu 17-Jul-25 18:41:12

Am I wrong in assuming that not renewing somebody’s contract for a series is not the same as sacking them? They are not employees of the TV companies, they are freelance. It happens all the time in TV.

icanhandthemback Thu 17-Jul-25 18:53:12

He was already commissioned for a series as far as I understand it but was told he wasn't wanted now, Casdon.

Bluecat Thu 17-Jul-25 18:55:59

If it was "the N word", it was as offensive 7 years ago as it is today. It is hardly a case of the times they are a-changing.

Casdon Thu 17-Jul-25 19:02:40

I don’t think so, from what I’ve read, he said he had already filmed the next series with Grace Dent along with two Christmas specials, but each series is commissioned separately. He also said nobody had contacted him from Banijay subsequently,, so it sounds as though there is no contract in place for future series. Happy to be corrected though, I’ve just tried to piece together what exactly has happened from the media.

ferry23 Thu 17-Jul-25 19:10:18

I think some people are confusing Masterchef and Masterchef the Professionals.

Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti have only ever appeared as one-off guest judges on Masterchef. However, they head up Masterchef the Professionals alongside Greg Wallace. I haven't seen anything about his replacement so far on that.

JPB123 Thu 17-Jul-25 20:29:23

Well said Crossstitchfan

JPB123 Thu 17-Jul-25 20:37:57

I utterly dislike JT and GW…….they always shouted.They didn’t speak ,they yelled! Oafs!

Coconutty Thu 17-Jul-25 20:57:25

I have misophonia and I’d have sacked him years ago for biting the fork and slurping soup.

TerriBull Thu 17-Jul-25 21:06:02

I don't watch it so not invested in who presents it. I understand JT used a racial slur 7 years ago. Just wondering why wasn't that addressed at the timeconfused

Sr69 Thu 17-Jul-25 21:06:47

Granmarderby10, obviously you watched it!!

thelongdance8 Thu 17-Jul-25 21:10:11

When all the facts are exposed., we can make a more accurate judgement on this case.

GoldenAge Thu 17-Jul-25 23:01:41

Richard Osman recalls that Torode used the worst racial slur and was asked at the time to take a year off and do some re-training to educate himself on what was/wasn't not acceptable. Apparently he declined. So to say he doesn't remember what he said is a little disingenuous. If he did use the worst or any racial slur, for that matter, then he shouldn't have been asked to take a year out, he should have been instructed to do that and to follow a diversity course. What's also interesting I think is that he must have stood by as Wallace was behaving inappropriately and not been perturbed by it. Perhaps what we have here are two men who are so full of their own importance that they've lost touch with the real world, of what's acceptable behaviour and what isn't. This isn't wokery, I can imagine there's more to come out.

Crossstitchfan Thu 17-Jul-25 23:30:39

Doodledog

I've just thought of a better way to say it - would describing someone white as 'a colourless person' feel offensive? It's the same thing in reverse, with dark skin as the default, and the colour of 'white' skin as lacking something.

Probably, because everything is seen as offensive nowadays. All I know is, it’s all getting ridiculous now and some people are seeing/hearing insults where none exist.
The other day, I was chatting to my adult daughters, and came out with what I thought was a totally normal, well-used and inoffensive word. I can’t even remember now what it was! I was told that apparently that word is totally offensive now. So my worry is, if I don’t even know if a word has become offensive since I last knew it, how will I avoid coming out with the wrong thing? It’s all getting beyond a joke.

welbeck Thu 17-Jul-25 23:59:54

You could seek to educate yourself.
There must be multiple resources online.
Plenty of free ones.
You know what they say.
Ever day's a school day.
That's what keeps us young.
Learn something every day.

Mollygo Fri 18-Jul-25 00:08:08

Crossstitchfan,
Thats all in a typical day. What was OK yesterday won’t be tomorrow.
What is OK to some people, is offensive to others, but even that may have changed by next week.

Life’s too short for studying an ever changing pattern of what’s offensive to whom.
Don’t worry.

Crossstitchfan Fri 18-Jul-25 00:52:55

Thanks Mollygo. I shall take your advice and not worry too much. I can only do my best!

icanhandthemback Fri 18-Jul-25 08:29:24

Crossstitchfan

Thanks Mollygo. I shall take your advice and not worry too much. I can only do my best!

If you get it wrong, profuse apologies and a lesson learned. My memory won't hold all the changes but I do my best.

Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 10:16:24

TEN MINUTES! 🗣️ ..this is what comes to mind when I think of Masterchef.
Can’t reach the mute button fast enough me!
Ditto Eastenders, The Apprentice, Dragons Den, Casualty (dead but won’t lie down) Mrs Browns Boys.

All heavily advertised by the Beeb plus Masterchef has spin-off shows so does The Apprentice.
What’s to like.

ferry23 Fri 18-Jul-25 10:22:18

Granmarderby10

*TEN MINUTES!* 🗣️ ..this is what comes to mind when I think of Masterchef.
Can’t reach the mute button fast enough me!
Ditto Eastenders, The Apprentice, Dragons Den, Casualty (dead but won’t lie down) Mrs Browns Boys.

All heavily advertised by the Beeb plus Masterchef has spin-off shows so does The Apprentice.
What’s to like.

I'm a bit lost - what is it you're saying Granmarderby?

Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 10:27:46

I don’t like Masterchef.
Or the others named shows🤗

Geordiegirl1 Fri 18-Jul-25 17:08:26

So he says.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 18-Jul-25 17:28:49

Bluecat

If it was "the N word", it was as offensive 7 years ago as it is today. It is hardly a case of the times they are a-changing.

As I understand it the N word is only offensive when used by white folks.

It is used often and repeatedly in Gangsta Rap and Grime songs.