Gregg Wallace 'threw John Torode under bus' at MasterChef as 'relationship broke down'

Gregg Wallace was feeding information about his MasterChef co-presenter John Torode during an investigation into his own behaviour, it has been claimed. Despite the men fronting the BBC cookery show for 20 years together, the pair were “never friends”, a new report says.

Wallace was actually briefing against Torode when the broadcaster and production company were investigating allegations of misconduct against him. It comes after both presenters were axed from the show. Wallace was sacked first, after 45 out of 83 claims against him, including "unwanted physical contact", "being in a state of undress", bullying and inappropriate jokes, were uphold. This week Torode followed him out of the door over an allegation of using "an extremely offensive racist term", which he denies any knowledge of.

READ MORE: MasterChef's new hosts 'revealed' after Gregg Wallace and John Torode scandal

It has been reported that he used the N-word at a season filming wrap party in 2019 while singing along to Gold Digger by Kanye West. But BBC News say the claim actually relates to the previous year when he allegedly used the same word on set following the end of filming, and it was directed at a member of staff.

The Australian star, 59, continues to insist he has “no recollection” of the "offensive" comment he was accused of making, despite lawyers Lewis Silkin upholding the complaint. He said any racist language is "wholly unacceptable".

Nine allegations were made against Torode between 2012 and 2019. Investigators classed two as not substantiated and six as having insufficient evidence. They include other allegations of abusive language towards junior production staff and sexual language

BBC News revealed the allegations in November. They claim the MasterChef production team were “defensive” at the time and “wanted to ride out the storm”, hoping “the story would go away.” “There was a view that Wallace's career could be saved, and his worst behaviour was in the past,” writes Noor Nanji. “Others in the production team were in disbelief.” She says few formal complaints were made through fear of “repercussions”. Many of the staff on the show were freelance and worried future career opportunities would be hampered if they spoke up.

The BBC and Banijay were said to be at odds with each other over the saga, with Banijay not initially planning to sack Torode but the BBC's director general Tim Davie insisting on drawing "a line in the sand" over it.

Earlier this week the Mirror reported how Torode was preparing to take legal action against the BBC and Banijay after he was sacked from MasterChef. He said in a statement told how he’d only found out his contract had been terminated after the Beeb and producers Banijay put out the news. Sources close to the star say he’s speaking to employment lawyers as he fights to “clear his name.” Torode himself revealed he was the subject on an allegation, saying: "I do not believe that it happened."

Banijay UK said it had discussed the matter with Torode and with the BBC and that they "are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef". But in a statement released on Tuesday night, Torode said: "Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay, I am seeing and reading I've been 'sacked' from MasterChef. I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of. The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong." He said Celebrity MasterChef, which he recently filmed with food critic Grace Dent, along with two Christmas specials, would be his last.

Speaking to BBC News on Tuesday afternoon, BBC Director General Davie described the allegation against Torode as "a serious racist term which does not get to be acceptable in any way shape or form. It's really important we are taking this seriously.”

ITV are currently standing by John and give his TV career a lifeline. The third episode of John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen, the show he hosts with wife Lisa, went out yesterday morning. A source said the developments have been “hard for Lisa”, who is “conscious of their ITV show and doesn’t want to jeopardise that.”

Question marks now hang over the full recording of BBC1's amateur version of MasterChef, put on ice over the probe into Wallace, and the 20th celebrity series, with 20 faces yet to be named, plus judge Grace Dent. But Davie insisted the show would survive. "It's a great programme, well loved by audiences. It is bigger than individuals. It can survive and prosper, but we've got to make sure we're in the right place in terms of the culture of the show," he said. Saturday Kitchen's Matt Tebbutt and The Great British Menu host Andi Oliver are in the frame to take over the mantle at MasterChef.

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