I don't believe John is racist

MasterChef champ defends judge

- BY JANINE YAQOOB

A MASTERCHEF champion has defended the show's sacked hosts, saying she does not believe John Torode is racist and that Gregg Wallace was never “untoward” to her.

Thomasina Miers, who won the first series in 2005, said she “felt awful” for judge Torode, who she described as being “incredibly nurturing [and] supportive”.

And she admitted that co-judge Wallace was “full of smutty jokes”, but that she did not mind them.

She said: “I have no idea about the dropping of trousers. I have no idea about whether he used his power over people. Never anything untoward towards me at all.”