The first ever winner of the BBC’s MasterChef revival has described her anger at John Torode’s axing from the cookery show.
Thomasina Miers was crowned the MasterChef victor by Gregg Wallace and John Torode in 2005 and has gone on to set up the chain of Mexican restaurants Wahaca.
This year’s edition of the BBC One cooking show has been steeped in controversy, after a report into conduct on the programme upheld complaints against both the show’s judges.
Following the publication of the Silkins report, both Wallace and Torode were sacked from the show. However, the judges had already filmed the 21st series of the programme, leaving the BBC debating whether or not to air the episodes.
The broadcaster ultimately decided to go ahead, saying it was the ‘right thing to do’ by the unprofessional chefs who had taken part. However, two contestants asked for their appearances to be edited out and there has been much speculation over whether Torode and Wallace’s banter has been left on the cutting room floor as well.
MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers has now weighed in on the scandal and defended Torode.
She told The Sunday Times: ‘I cannot believe that John got hung out to dry like that. Twenty years of his life of dedicated service. John is like the least racist person I’ve ever met… I just don’t get it.’
Miers did not comment on Wallace’s sacking, but said that ‘smutty’ kitchen jokes have been a frequent part of the kitchens she’s been in.
She told the publication: ‘I have a really smutty sense of humour so God knows what the BBC would make of some of the banter we have. I don’t think they’d approve but we have a lot of fun in the kitchens.
‘Obviously you can’t be making other people feel uncomfortable, but equally I think you have to have fun and be able to have a joke… The kitchen is notoriously full of innuendo and double meanings.’
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’.
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It has been claimed the upheld complaint against Torode related to the Australian chef ‘using the N-word’. Torode has said he has no recollection of this.
Torode was allegedly rapping along to Kanye West’s 2005 hit single Gold Digger when he chose not to perform the censored radio version of the song. A debate is believed to have started after this.
However, the claim about Torode using ‘the N-word’ is said to have related 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, BBC News reported.
Miers’ comments come after the BBC confirmed a second contestant had asked to be cut from the 21st series of the show.
A spokesperson for the show’s production company Banijay said: ‘One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included. We have of course accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show.’
Metro contacted the BBC and John Torode’s representatives for comment.
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