With TWO disgraced presenters, BBC decision to air MasterChef is an insult to all of us and a slap in the face to everyone who has been belittled and abused on the show, says CHRISTOPHER STEVENS

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How bad do things have to get before the BBC does the right thing and bins MasterChef? 

The resumption of the long-standing cooking competition, following the dismissal of its disgraced hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode, is seen as an affront to license-payers and a stinging rebuke for everyone involved – participants, crew members, and even those who have faced belittlement and mistreatment throughout its history.

It’s reported that Series 21 will be broadcast in its entirety, allegedly due to fairness towards the 60 contestants this year – despite one participant, Sarah Shafi, advocating for its cancellation. However, instead of heeding her request, she was excluded from the show, a decision that left her astonished and bewildered.

After seeing the first episode, I’m just as astonished as you might be. It seems like Banijay, the production company, took a second look at the footage and thought: “No need to worry! There’s at least an hour where Gregg is wearing pants and John doesn’t make any racially insensitive comments. We’re all set!

If you haven’t been following the commotion before this announcement, you may think I’m joking. However, let me clarify that after receiving several concerns, Banijay actually conducted an examination into Wallace’s conduct.

Most of the 83 accusations against him pertained to inappropriate sexual banter and humor, which leads one to wonder if the producers find such comments acceptable in a television environment. It might be that they’re unaware that ‘food porn’ is not related to nudity.

Without a doubt, Wallace was not exonerated on any count. Among the 45 allegations confirmed against him, one involved inappropriate physical touch and three pertained to instances where he was found to be improperly dressed.

In the course of their enquiries, Banijay also learned that Torode had used a racist slur.

Regardless of their claims of innocence, both men ended up being removed from the program. However, it appears that Wallace and Torode will be judging once more.

It’s highly unlikely that BBC executives are airing the series out of obligation towards the contestants, as the Corporation claims. The television industry generally isn’t driven by sentimentality in such matters.

It seems far more probable that the issue is related to financial matters. The BBC, having invested in MasterChef, now seeks a fair return, perhaps as perfectly cooked steak accompanied by herbed potatoes and a sprinkling of walnut garnish.

Currently, the BBC has the full authority to terminate the show if they so choose. This decision would likely be backed by the government and the unions managing their payroll.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expresses that she will not tune in. The official residence of the British Prime Minister, Downing Street, has endorsed the BBC’s move to cut ties with Wallace. Additionally, the broadcasting union Bectu asserts that the presenters should not receive special treatment with prime-time coverage.

Previously, similar instances have also occurred. For instance, last year, BBC One took out episodes featuring Jay Blades from their programming lineup, following allegations of abusive behavior towards his former spouse, specifically coercive and controlling actions.

Despite several episodes featuring Blades still being available on iPlayer, he currently faces two more severe charges of rape this week. It’s uncertain whether he will be removed from past episodes should he be found guilty; the BBC has yet to comment on the matter.

It’s important to note that neither Wallace nor Torode have encountered a police investigation or criminal charges. However, they have faced consequences for other contentious matters.

In the year 2020, it was disconcerting for executives at Sky to discover that a contestant with numerous tattoos, slated for an upcoming reality show, was in fact openly displaying symbols associated with Neo-Nazism.

Social media users noticed and called attention to the fact that Darren Lumsden’s body art, showcased in trailers for the woodworking competition The Chop, contained hidden symbols supportive of Adolf Hitler and white supremacy.

Sky could have fudged the issue. Instead, they did the right thing. The Chop got the chop.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I must admit my disappointment in the BBC’s approach regarding Wallace and Torode. It seems they overlooked the importance of maintaining the show’s original charm by focusing on sanitizing it, leaving only the most bland moments. Instead of engaging in thoughtful discussions about dishes, they now ask harmless questions and merely smile at the responses. The once lively cheesy banter between them has significantly diminished.

Due to this, the hour feels just as warm and uninteresting as water drained from a cooked spaghetti pot. The judges could very well be artificial intelligence machines.

And if MasterChef is to continue, perhaps that would be the Beeb’s safest option.

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2025-08-07 01:18