John Torode, the long-serving co-host of BBC‘s “MasterChef,” has confirmed he’s the topic of a racist language allegation that was upheld within the investigation into the present’s office tradition, breaking his silence on findings which have rocked the flagship culinary sequence.

In an Instagram assertion posted Monday, Torode acknowledged he’s “the person who’s alleged to have used racial language on one event” as a part of the Lewis Silkin investigation that primarily centered on his co-presenter Gregg Wallace. The allegation pertains to remarks allegedly made in 2018 or 2019.

“For the sake of transparency, I affirm that I’m the person who’s alleged to have used racial language on one event,” Torode wrote. Nevertheless, the celeb chef maintained his innocence, stating: “I’ve completely no recollection of any of this, and I don’t imagine that it occurred.”

In accordance with Torode’s assertion, the allegation included that “the individual I used to be talking with didn’t imagine that it was meant in a malicious manner and that I apologized instantly afterwards.” Regardless of this characterization, Torode expressed shock on the discovering.

“I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I’d by no means want to trigger anybody any offence,” he stated. “I need to be clear that I’ve at all times had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any setting.”

The revelation comes because the BBC and producer Banijay U.Ok. introduced the termination of Wallace’s almost two-decade tenure on “MasterChef” following the Lewis Silkin investigation, which substantiated 45 of 83 allegations in opposition to Wallace spanning from 2005 to 2024.

The report additionally examined 10 standalone allegations in opposition to different people concerned with the productions, substantiating two of them. Each upheld allegations associated to inappropriate language – one involving swearing and one involving racist language, now confirmed to contain Torode.

Not like Wallace, whose departure from “MasterChef” was deemed “untenable” by each the BBC and Banijay U.Ok., Torode’s future with the present stays unclear. The BBC has not issued any assertion but relating to Torode’s standing following his acknowledgment of the upheld allegation.

The Lewis Silkin investigation, which spanned seven months and interviewed 78 witnesses, was commissioned in December 2024 following media studies of allegations in opposition to Wallace. The probe examined office tradition and grievance dealing with procedures throughout the manufacturing spanning almost twenty years.

The findings have solid a shadow over one in all BBC One’s most profitable codecs, which has been a cornerstone of the community’s programming since Torode and Wallace started co-hosting in 2005. Their partnership helped set up “MasterChef” as a worldwide phenomenon, spawning a number of worldwide variations and spin-offs.

With Wallace’s departure confirmed and questions now surrounding Torode’s involvement, the long run format of “MasterChef” stays unsure.