John Torode has shared a positive message about filming MasterChef with his new co-host after Gregg Wallace’s exit.
Last year, it was confirmed Wallace was stepping away from the role amid an external review into historical allegations of misconduct.
He faced accusations of making ‘inappropriate sexual jokes’ and lewd comments on set, asking for the phone numbers of female members of production staff, and undressing in front of and standing ‘too close’ to women working on his shows.
Wallace and his lawyers fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.
He has since returned to social media after a months-long break, given one interview and claimed he has nothing more to add but ‘needs space to heal and to be with the people who know who I really am’.
Following the scandal, MasterChef: The Professionals continued to air last year, but the two Christmas specials were pulled.
It was confirmed Grace Dent would be replacing Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef this year, though a replacement for MasterChef has yet to be announced.
As filming of the new series with I’m A Celebrity star Dent is underway, Torode has given a telling remark at the Fortnum & Masons Food and Drink Awards at the Royal Exchange.
The 59-year-old told The Mail: ‘We’ve been filming MasterChef, which has been great and that’s been brilliant.
‘We’ve moved to Birmingham and me and Grace are having a wonderful time. She’s doing a great job. So, it’s onwards and upwards.’
Speaking about remaining optimistic after the scandal, he added: ‘The thing is that if you walk outside and the sun’s shining, the sky is blue, and you can hear a bird.
‘You’re still alive, so that’s a really good perspective to have.’
After it was announced that Dent would be replacing Wallace, both Torode and his wife Lisa Faulkner threw their support behind her.
She also said in a statement: ‘I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa. My whole family watches it. It’s all about uncovering and championing talent – and to have ended up in this position, is more than a dream to me.
‘I’m so excited that I can’t eat, which is severely detrimental to a restaurant critic. I feel very lucky to be stepping in for the next Celebrity MasterChef. I can’t wait to meet the fresh celebrity faces for 2025.’
Torode, who has presented MasterChef since 2005 alongside Wallace, added: ‘I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges.
‘Expertise is what MasterChef is all about, from the contestants to our wonderful production team, to us as judges.
‘The love of food, the love of MasterChef, and that unquestionable expertise, makes Grace the perfect person to step in alongside me as judge for the forthcoming Celebrity MasterChef series.’
He had previously put out a statement over the allegations against Wallace, saying he would not comment further while the investigation continued, but stressed how much he loves MasterChef.
‘I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it,’ he said.
MasterChef was thrown into turmoil last year when it was alleged Wallace groped three people in different incidents, that he ‘mimicked sex acts’ and walked around the studio almost ‘completely naked’, with more than 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year-period making complaints.
It was also claimed that he sexually harassed his ghost-writer with ‘thigh rubs’, while several women spoke out, including Ulrika Jonsson and Kirsty Wark.
Wallace and his lawyers have fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.
Following the first of the accusations, Wallace put out a statement on social media claiming they come from ‘middle-class women of a certain age’.
After receiving immense backlash, including from the likes of Lorraine Kelly and Sir Keir Starmer who called them ‘inappropriate and misogynistic’, he later apologised, saying: ‘I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people. I wasn’t in a good head space when I posted it.
‘I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege when I posted it.
‘It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is underway.
‘I hope you understand and I do hope that you will accept this apology.’
Amid rumours of who will be replacing Wallace on the regular series of MasterChef, several names have been thrown into the mix including Saturday Kitchen star Matt Tebbutt.
‘Matt rose to the challenge of coming into Saturday Kitchen after it was previously hosted by another big name in the world of food, James Martin,’ a source said.
‘He managed the feat of making it his own and almost making viewers forget who his predecessor was – now Beeb bosses, and the show producers Banijay, will be hoping he can work the same magic on MasterChef.’
The insider told The Sun that ‘nothing is set in stone’ at the moment, and the investigations into Wallace’s behaviour are yet to reach a final verdict.
‘But since MasterChef is such a huge show with a massive following, the Beeb are keen to have everything lined up ready,’ they added.
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