The ongoing turbulence surrounding MasterChef UK has deepened, with a second contestant requesting to be removed from the current season following the firing of longtime hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode over misconduct allegations.
The production company, Banijay UK, confirmed that an unnamed competitor asked to be edited out of the series in light of the controversy. A spokesperson stated that the request was honored and the contestant’s appearance has been fully removed from broadcast episodes.
This latest withdrawal comes shortly after Sarah Shafi, another participant, revealed she had been cut from the season after voicing concerns about the two presenters.
Shafi’s decision to step away placed a public spotlight on the atmosphere surrounding the program and the BBC’s handling of the scandal.
Wallace and Torode, who had fronted the cooking competition for years, were both removed within the past year after separate investigations uncovered inappropriate behavior. More than 80 complaints were lodged against Wallace, ranging from sexually suggestive remarks and crude jokes to a reported incident of unwanted physical contact. Torode became embroiled in the controversy later, after allegations emerged that he used a racist term in 2018.
The current season was filmed in November, months before the allegations surfaced publicly. Wallace remained on set until mid-competition, when the BBC replaced him with Irish chef Anna Hughes as the complaints became widely known. Reports involving Torode did not come to light until after filming had concluded.
The revelations prompted a public debate over whether the BBC should air the pre-recorded episodes. Critics argued that broadcasting a season featuring both men, despite their subsequent dismissals, undermined the seriousness of the allegations.
Supporters countered that withholding the season would unfairly penalize the contestants who had invested significant time and effort into the competition.
Ultimately, the BBC chose to proceed with airing the season. In a statement, the broadcaster emphasized that showing the episodes “in no way diminishes” the gravity of the findings against Wallace and Torode, but argued that it was “the right thing to do” for the other cooks who had competed in good faith. The network also framed it as a matter of giving audiences the choice to watch.
The decision, however, has not quelled the controversy. Two contestants have now publicly distanced themselves from the program, casting further scrutiny on the BBC’s editorial judgment and raising questions about whether the network underestimated the impact of airing the footage.
Wallace has pushed back against the narrative surrounding his departure. Speaking to The Sun, he expressed regret for upsetting people but insisted he was “not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher,” describing some of the claims as exaggerated.
He has also spoken publicly about his autism diagnosis, though he did not suggest it as a defense for the allegations.
Torode, for his part, has denied recollection of the 2018 incident involving racist language, while acknowledging that such language is “wholly unacceptable.” He has not faced as many documented complaints as Wallace, but his inclusion in the controversy has compounded public backlash.
For MasterChef UK, the unfolding situation poses a reputational challenge. The series, one of Britain’s most recognizable culinary competitions, is now navigating a season overshadowed by off-screen scandals.
Contestant withdrawals, viewer unease, and critical scrutiny have transformed what should have been a showcase of cooking talent into a flashpoint in the debate over accountability in entertainment.
While the BBC maintains that the show’s airing honors the work of its contestants, the absence of at least two participants from the edit underscores the extent to which the fallout continues to reshape the season in real time.
Whether the controversy will impact future seasons, or the public’s appetite for the brand, remains an open question, but the ripple effects of the Wallace and Torode scandal are clearly far from over.