MASTERS TO DISASTERS

Torode axed over claim of offensive racist remark | Show's future plunged into doubt amid scandals

- BY NICOLA METHVEN and MARK JEFFERIES

MASTERCHEF may be one of TV's most popular cookery shows and a global success, but the axing of both its co-stars has turned things very sour.

And after John Torode followed Gregg Wallace out of the door for allegedly using racist language, the future of its two alreadyrecorded series was plunged into doubt.

The Australian star last night continued to insist he had no knowledge of the "offensive" comment he was accused of making, despite lawyers Lewis Silkin upholding the complaint, said to be from 2018.

It came after the firm upheld 45 out of 83 claims against Wallace, 60, including "unwanted physical contact", "being in a state of undress, bullying and inappropriate jokes.

A source close to the probe claimed Torode, 59, would more than likely blame his co-host for his sacking after he last week moaned that other complaints made over behaviour during the show's 20-year history were not being given proper scrutiny.

MasterChef production company Banijay UK said it had discussed the matter with Torode and with the BBC and that they "are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef".

But the host, who confirmed on Monday that one of the complaints upheld in this week's report into Wallace related to him and he had "apologised immediately", claimed he had learned his time on the show was over only from media reports.