MasterChef ‘begins casting process’ after Gregg Wallace and John Torode are axed
MasterChef has already begun its casting process for the next series following the axing of Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
The BBC cooking show has been plagued by controversy in recent weeks after an independent review commissioned by production company Banijay upheld 45 of the 83 misconduct allegations against Wallace, 60, leading to his official removal from the cooking reality series.
Torode, 59, exited hot on his heels after admitting he was subject to the racial language accusation featured in the review, although he said he has ‘no recollection’ of the incident. It was claimed that he ‘used the ‘the N-word’ on two separate occasions while working at the BBC.
Last week, Wallace then claimed he was ‘groped’ and faced sexual harassment from a host of women ‘on a regular basis’ while hosting MasterChef.
Now, despite the chaos surrounding the series, MasterChef bosses are ploughing ahead with their search for the latest cooking hopefuls.
Taking to social media to advertise a casting call, production companyBanijay wrote: ‘For over 20 years we have been putting Britain’s best food talents through their paces.
‘Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this.’
The website further added: ‘Whether you’re an amateur cook looking to showcase your home-taught skills or a professional chef wanting to take your career to the next level you can apply for a UK MasterChef series below’.
According to The Sun, Banijay said it made the decision to cast for a new series following ‘consultation with the contestants’.
Who could be the new MasterChef hosts?
It follows rumours that BBC chef Andi Oliver, 62, and Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt, 51, have already been ‘confirmed’ as the presenters for the next series.
This also comes after the BBC confirmed they will release the unaired MasterChef series featuring fired presenters Wallace and Torode.
The amateur version of the hit reality cooking series had already filmed season 21 when Wallace was removed as host following a string of misconduct allegations.
When will the next season of MasterChef be released?
The BBC initially said they were still deliberating whether to air the already-recorded season but now have made the decision to release it at the start of August.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6.
‘MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey.’
The decision to look for new contestants on the show also comes after Wallace made sensational claims that he was ‘groped’ on MasterChef as he hit out at the broadcaster over their ‘complaints procedure’.
He said: ‘The whole complaints procedure needs to be readdressed – there are huge problems with it as things stand. Being on MasterChef was brilliant but I had so many bad experiences on that show too.
A timeline of allegations against Gregg Wallace
2005 to 2011
A report by law firm Lewis Silkin found there were 27 substantiated claims against Wallace relating to alleged incidents during this period, most of which related to sexually explicit comments.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact during this timeframe was also substantiated.
The report found that when concerns were reported to the production company during this period, there was a failure to retain records of any action taken.
2012 to 2018
The report found that 17 upheld allegations relate to this period.
In 2015, the production company behind MasterChef investigated an allegation about Wallace’s behaviour, but he was not made aware of the complaint.
The following year, the production company merged with Endemol, and more formal policies, regular training, and anonymous reporting lines were introduced.
The BBC intervened in response to a complaint in 2017, following which Wallace was warned of the need to change his behaviour.
2019 to 2024
One substantiated complaint about an inappropriate comment fell into this period.
November 2024
Wallace faced allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across a range of shows over 17 years, BBC News reported.
The TV star stepped away from presenting MasterChef while Banijay, the show’s production company, announced that it was conducting an external review to ‘fully and impartially investigate’ the claims.
BBC News said allegations include the presenter ‘talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to “give her a fashion show”, and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans’.
The charity Ambitious About Autism said it had dropped Wallace as an ambassador, citing the ‘recent allegations’.
Banijay UK confirmed it appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged behaviour.
December 2024
Wallace said in a video posted to Instagram that accusations about him making sexual comments towards staff and guests have come from ‘middle-class women of a certain age’.
Downing Street said Wallace’s response to the accusations being made against him was ‘inappropriate and misogynistic’.
A spokesperson added that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had held talks with BBC bosses in the wake of the Wallace row.
Following the backlash, Wallace apologised for any ‘offence’ or ‘upset’ he caused with his remarks and said he would ‘take some time out’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said politicians should be ready to put in place ‘mechanisms’ that would instil ‘confidence’ that women will be taken seriously in reports of inappropriate behaviour after a Labour MP asked him about ‘women of a certain age’, reflecting comments Wallace apologised for.
MasterChef co-presenter John Torode said in a social media post that he ‘loves being part of’ the programme and ‘will continue to be a part of it’.
April 2025
Wallace told the Daily Mail he ‘thought about suicide all the time’ after allegations of misconduct were made against him.
July 8-9, 2025
Wallace was sacked as MasterChef presenter following the inquiry into his alleged misconduct by production company Banijay.
BBC News said it had not seen the final review from Banijay but understood the presenter had been sacked.
In an Instagram post, the former greengrocer claimed he had been cleared of the ‘most serious and sensational accusations’ ahead of the published review.
He also said he recognised that some of his humour and language were inappropriate ‘at times’ and apologised for this.
July 14, 2025
The report by law firm Lewis Silkin for Banijay is published.
It says that a total of 45 out of the 83 allegations made against Wallace during his time on the show were substantiated, including one allegation of ‘unwelcome physical contact’.
It concludes that the ‘majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour’, adding that ‘a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated’.
In the wake of the report’s findings, Banijay say that ‘Wallace’s return to MasterChef (is) untenable’.
‘Had I wanted to raise any complaints, I’d have had the decency to speak to that person directly. Privately, not publicly. My God, can you imagine the complaints I could have made? Have you got any idea of the sexual references made to me on a daily basis?
‘How many times I’ve been touched by women wanting a selfie? How many times I’ve been groped? How many times suggestive comments have been made to me? How many female contestants have said inappropriate things on MasterChef?’
Wallace also claimed that the thought of complaining wouldn’t even ‘cross my mind’, noting that he wasn’t suggesting that groping was ‘right’, but it was ‘happening to me on a regular basis.’
The presenter went on to claim that he was ‘shouted at and bullied’.
Wallace also addressed the accusations against him, including one that he walked around the show’s set naked with a sock on his penis.
He stressed he was not a flasher, as he recounted his version of the incident, which he said happened in the studio after filming had finished.
He told the publication there were no contestants in the studio, adding that it was outside his dressing room door with four friends, including Monica Galetti.
He said: ‘I was getting changed to go to a black-tie event, a charity event. I put my bow tie on and my shirt. It’s only them outside the door.
‘I put the sock on, opened the door, went, “Wahey!” and shut the door again. The people interviewed were either amused or bemused. Nobody was distressed.’
He continued: ‘I’m not a groper. People think I’ve been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher.’
Contestants can apply for MasterChef online at masterchef.tv.
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