A contestant on the BBC’s MasterChef has been edited out of the upcoming season after asking for it not to be aired.
The release of the new season (set to come out next week) has been mired in controversy after co-presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode were fired from the cooking reality competition.
They were sacked after a review into misconduct accusations against Wallace substantiated 45 allegations against him, including an incident of ‘unwelcome physical contact’ and upheld a racial language allegation against Torode, which he doesn’t recall.
After weeks of uncertainty over whether the already-recorded amateur season involving both hosts would go ahead, the BBC recently confirmed it would air in early August.
Now, a contestant has told the Guardian that she ultimately agreed to be edited out of the show after requesting the whole season be axed.
Sarah Shafi, a leadership and management development partner for St John Ambulance from Leeds, explained that she initially rejected the offer to be edited out but changed her mind after discovering the show would broadcast from August 6.
She told the publication: ‘I didn’t say edit me out. I said: “Axe the show, don’t air the show. I’m asking you not to air the show.” Prominent figures have been abusing their power. What message does that send out to women?
‘For me, it’s about the enabling environment. It’s that complicity. Those individual powerful men do not [act] in isolation. There is an enabling environment, turning a blind eye … It’s about years of these institutions not being accountable.’
In a statement to Metro, the BBC said: ‘As we said when we announced the show would be aired, this was not an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone would agree with it.
‘Banijay consulted with all the contestants before that decision was made and there was widespread support for it going ahead.
‘We are sorry that this contestant does not support the decision and we are grateful she raised this with both the BBC and Banijay.’
When they first announced their final decision, a spokesperson explained that it had ‘not been an easy decision in the circumstances’.
They continued: ‘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.
‘In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters.
‘We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC.’
It is understood that the edit of the whole season has been ‘looked at’ to focus on the contestants and their journey, although the presenters will still be present.
There is still no firm conclusion on the fate of the further Celebrity MasterChef season and two festive specials that still feature Torode.
The BBC has previously also reiterated its optimism over the future of MasterChef on the national broadcaster beyond 2028 when this contract expires.
The search for the next set of presenters is on, following rumours that Great British Menu star Andi Oliver and Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt had been ‘confirmed’ as the new faces.
It comes after Wallace told The Sun last week that he had been ‘groped’ by a host of women over the years while filming MasterChef.
MasterChef will air on BBC One on August 6 at 8pm.
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