John Torode repeatedly flagged concerns about his MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace‘s inappropriate behaviour but no action was taken, insiders claimed last night.
The 59-year-old Australian chef was unhappy with some of the language Wallace used while filming and was aware of his bullish reputation, sources claimed.
Torode is understood to have spoken to officials at Banijay UK, Masterchef’s producer, about his co-host’s behaviour.
Wallace, 60, stepped down from hosting the BBC cooking show after nearly 20 years last Thursday, while an investigation into his alleged misconduct is carried out.
The former greengrocer initially faced accusations of inappropriate behaviour from 13 people, including Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, over a 17-year period across five shows from 2005 to 2022.
But in the days after, he has faced an onslaught of fresh allegations which include groping, pressing his crotch against a colleague and allegedly flashing another woman in his dressing room.
On Wednesday, the ghostwriter of his 2012 memoir also alleged that he touched her thigh in his sports car, felt her bottom after he appeared at the Good Food Show in Birmingham and made a revolting sexual joke about Eton Mess.
As Wallace clings onto a future in TV, The Sun reports that Torode and his actress wife, Lisa Faulkner, are keen to distance themselves from the scandal.
John Torode repeatedly flagged concerns about his MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace’s inappropriate behaviour but no action was taken, insiders have claimed
Torode is understood to have spoken to officials at Banijay UK, Masterchef’s producer, about Wallace’s behaviour
The 59-year-old Australian chef was unhappy with some of the language Wallace used while filming and was aware of his bullish reputation, sources claimed
A source told the newspaper last night: ‘John is not stupid – of course he was aware of some of Gregg’s less savoury behaviour. He did not condone it, and nor did he engage with it.
‘He does not have a machismo sense of humour and when he made that comment about the pair of them not being friends in real life, he knew what he was doing.
‘It was his way of distancing himself when attempts to do it otherwise failed.’
Amid rows, weddings, and onscreen spats, Wallace and Torode appear to have endured a tumultuous friendship behind the scenes of their 19-year tenure of the show.
Though Torode was Wallace#s best man for his fourth wedding to Anne Marie in 2016, the duo have in the past admitted they had a spat so awful that filming for MasterChef had to be called off, while Torode has said they’ve ‘never really’ been friends.
And their relationship will surely have been made even more difficult after Torode’s wife claimed Gregg made ‘rude joke after rude joke’ while MasterChef was being filmed.
The Sun’s source added that Torode often flagged Wallace’s remarks to executives on set and made it clear that he was not happy with them, but never lodged a formal complaint.
The insider claimed Torode does not know whether a formal record was every made but felt that bosses ‘turned a blind eye’ to protect the MasterChef brand.
Wallace denies any behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
Amid rows, weddings, and onscreen spats, Wallace and Torode appear to have endured a tumultuous friendship behind the scenes of their 19-year tenure of the show
At least 13 people have made a formal complaint against Wallace, while other celebrities and former contestants have also spoken about his alleged behaviour
Torode failed to address the Wallace scandal for several days but broke his silence on Wednesday to say: ‘I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it.
‘The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear and I have found the recent Press reports truly upsetting.
‘But as I hope everyone appreciates, there is an investigation under way, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage, and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.’
His wife Lisa also reposted the message.
Wallace’s representatives declined to comment on Torode reportedly flagging his co-host’s behaviour. MailOnline has contacted Torode, BBC and Banijay UK for comment.
It comes after MailOnline revealed earlier on Thursday that Wallace may be completely erased from the new series of MasterChef so it can be aired.
Wallace had already filmed the forthcoming series for amateur chefs last month with Torode.
But the 60-year-old is now set to be wiped from the tapes before it is screened next year.
Despite the BBC insisting that the future of MasterChef will not be decided until the outcome of the investigation, a production insider told the MailOnline that the series is ‘salvageable’ as the option to airbrush Wallace entirely out of the episodes is being carefully considered.
This would mean that the series – which will have cost production company Banijay a significant sum to make – would not have to be binned.
The source said that Torode and Wallace’s critiques, where they give feedback on the contestants’ food, were filmed separately.
They said: ‘John and Gregg were always shot with separate cameras. Any two shots, or wide shots containing the pair can be cut. Removing Gregg entirely is a difficult task, but not an impossible one.’
As pressure mounts on Wallace, fellow TV chef James Martin has pulled ahead as the favourite to take over from him on MasterChef.
The 52-year-old first appeared on screens back in 1999 and hosted Saturday Kitchen for ten years from 2006.
However, Martin himself faced his own allegations of bullying back in 2023.
He swore 42 times as he launched a foul-mouthed rant at his TV crew in 2018 shortly after his shock cancer diagnosis, with an extraordinary recording of the moment leaked online.
James Martin has emerged as the favourite to replace Gregg Wallace as presenter of MasterChef
Afterwards, the Mail exclusively revealed he could face being axed by ITV after senior bosses were left furious at his behaviour.
However, his continued to host his morning show and survived the scandal and is now in pole position to join John Torode on MasterChef.
The BBC may look closer to home for Torode’s new partner, with his wife Lisa the second favourite at 3/1.
The actress, 52, won Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 and has hosted ‘John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen’ on ITV since 2019.
Other names include well known TV chef Nigella Lawson at 4/1, who is currently part of the judging panel on the Australian version of MasterChef.
Gregg Wallace is facing claims from at least 13 women who have accused him of inappropriate behaviour
John Torode’s wife Lisa Faulkner is second-favourite to replace Wallace and join her husband on the show
Banijay UK, the production company that makes MasterChef, said Wallace was ‘committed to fully co-operating throughout the process’.
‘Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate,’ the company said.
‘While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.
‘Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
‘Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.’
On Thursday night, the BBC broadcast the semi-finals of MasterChef: The Professional, featuring Wallace. But it has scrapped the scheduled broadcast of two Christmas specials of the cookery show.