John Torode, the presenter of MasterChef, has confirmed that he is facing an allegation of using racist language. This allegation was upheld as part of a review into the conduct of his co-host, Gregg Wallace. The inquiry, commissioned by the production company Banijay and conducted by the law firm Lewis Silkin, substantiated 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace. Additionally, it included two standalone allegations against other individuals, one of which pertains to Torode.

In an Instagram post, Torode addressed the situation, stating that the allegation involves remarks he allegedly made in a social setting during 2018 or 2019. He noted that the person he was speaking to did not perceive the comments as malicious and that he had apologised immediately after the incident. Despite this, Torode expressed that he has "absolutely no recollection of any of this" and firmly stated, "I do not believe that it happened."

He further emphasised his stance against racial language, declaring, "I want to be clear that I've always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment." Torode expressed his shock and sadness regarding the allegation, asserting that he would never intend to offend anyone.

The investigation into Wallace's behaviour has raised significant concerns, with the findings prompting scrutiny of the workplace culture on the popular cooking show. More details are expected to emerge as the situation develops.