What a dog’s dinner MasterChef has been reduced to as the controversy around disgraced former host Gregg Wallace drags ever onwards. The BBC may have hoped to put a cork in the scandal by sacking Wallace – but now allegations have surfaced against his co-presenter, John Torode.
Torode took to social media this week to reveal he is the subject of a claim of using racist language, which has been upheld as part of an inquiry into Wallace’s behaviour. Torode said he had “no recollection” of the incident, continuing, “I do not believe that it happened”.
Whether Torode’s career survives is anyone’s guess, but no doubt PR experts will approve of him getting out ahead of the furore and confronting the issue head-on. “I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment” he wrote. “I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”
It is hardly a huge humanitarian gesture for Torode to acknowledge that racist terms are unacceptable. That said, it was a relief to hear the presenter put his hands up and acknowledge he had been the subject of a complaint, in contrast with the bluster and self-pity that, until this week, characterised Wallace’s behaviour.
It was a relief to hear the presenter acknowledge he’d been the subject of a complaint, in contrast with the bluster and self-pity that, until this week, characterised Wallace’s behaviour (Photo: BBC/Shine TV)“Uncorroborated tittle-tattle” was how Wallace reacted to a BBC News report on the numerous individuals who came forward with experiences of inappropriate behaviour against him – including one of unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress. He went on to blame undiagnosed autism, painting himself as the victim rather than the guilty party.
“Nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years… I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience. I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established.”
With an external report upholding 45 of the claims against Wallace, the presenter is now striking a more conciliatory note, declaring he is “deeply sorry”. But whatever he and Torode say, last orders have surely chimed for MasterChef, and question marks must hang over its 21st season (originally due to air in February) ever seeing daylight.
square BBC ‘I worked with Gregg Wallace – he made weird and horrible sexual comments’
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MasterChef isn’t the first reality series rocked by scandal. But the qualities that made it such a success could well spell its doom as producers seek a path forward.
In contrast to other shows broadly falling into the reality genre, MasterChef’s calling card was its air of refinement. Sober-minded and short on gimmicks, it was the definition of silver service reality television, where contestants took part out of a passion for cookery rather than because they wanted 15 seconds of fame.
Fair enough, many participants used the exposure to kick-start careers as professional chefs. However, such ambitions were always regarded as a higher calling than the tawdry rewards awaiting the winner of Love Island or X Factor. This was serious entertainment for serious people.
Yet we now know the whole thing was a lie. Rather than a jovial uncle dispensing bon mots over platters of pasta, the picture painted of Wallace in the BBC report is of an egotistical nightmare seemingly given carte blanche to run riot behind the cameras.
Such revelations would be a kiss of death to most shows – but in the case of MasterChef, they rob it of its most vital ingredient. In a world of TV junk food, it sold itself as a classy dinner date. But after this week’s events, there is surely no way back. Who wants another serving of a series where the recipe included ego, deceit and denial?
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