John Torode’s wife Lisa Faulkner has broken her silence after the MasterChef star was sacked for allegedly using a racist slur.
TV chef John, 59, recently lost his job on the BBC show after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have ‘absolutely no recollection’ of.
In a video uploaded to Instagram on Monday, his wife Lisa broke her silence for the first time since her husband was fired.
She said: ‘Hi there, I just wanted to check in and say hello and I’m here.
‘Just thank you for all your really lovely comments because they really mean a lot, so thank you.’
John was reportedly singing the rapper’s hit Gold Digger when he was allegedly ‘caught using the racist term during after work drinks six or seven years ago’.
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John Torode’s wife Lisa Faulkner has broken her silence after the MasterChef star was sacked for allegedly using a racist slur
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In a video uploaded to Instagram on Monday, his wife Lisa broke her silence for the first time since her husband was fired
But, BBC News has since reported this was not the incident which led to the complaint upheld by the report.
This instead related to another incident a year earlier, when he allegedly used the same word on set after filming an episode of MasterChef and it was directed at a member of staff.
The news site added that the upheld allegation of racist language was one of nine complaints made against Torode in the report, which also related to allegations of abusive language towards junior production staff and s3xual language, and which were not upheld.
These allegations were not upheld as they were unsubstantiated due to a lack of evidence or witnesses.
The Sun claims Torode used the word again whilst chatting to a friend on the MasterChef production team, who didn’t take offence.
The Australian-born chef has insisted ‘he had absolutely no recollection’ of using a racist term while drinking with colleagues seven years ago.
The person who raised the complaint is understood to have ‘overheard the conversation’.
The production pal allegedly backed Torode and said he only used the racial slur as an ‘example’ and ‘apologised afterwards’.
MailOnline has contacted BBC and Torode’s representatives for comment.
A witness told investigators he had apologised immediately, ‘was mortified’ and ‘didn’t use the term as a slur’ in 2018.
The BBC said earlier this month that Torode’s contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an ‘extremely offensive racist term’.
The corporation has refused to say what the racist term was – as has Torode, who has claimed he did ‘not believe that it happened’.
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Gregg Wallace (right) stepped down from the hit BBC cooking show after complaints were made about his behaviour. His co-host John (left) was then the subject of an allegation about using racist language and was also sacked from the show
But it was then described as the ‘worst racial slur there is’ by Richard Osman, who added of the investigation: ‘They found that to be substantively true. They found evidence that they were happy with – that that was true’.
Torode said after his sacking, in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram: ‘Although I haven’t heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay – I am seeing and reading that I’ve been ‘sacked’ from MasterChef and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I’m accused of.’
The complaint against Torode was revealed in the report into co-presenter Gregg Wallace’s inappropriate behaviour.
Wallace, 60, was sacked after dozens of complaints against him were upheld.
Torode identified himself as an unnamed person in the report who was accused of using ‘racist language’.
ITV have continued to host the disgraced presenter on his show he shares with his wife, Lisa; John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen.
In the nine months since MasterChef finished filming last Autumn there have been questions over whether it would ever be broadcast following allegations of inappropriate behaviour against presenters Wallace and Torode.
Last week the corporation revealed that the amateur series of MasterChef filmed last year, before allegations against Gregg and John were upheld, will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6.
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ITV have continued to host the disgraced presenter on his show he shares with his wife , Lisa ; John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen
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Wallace, 60, was sacked after dozens of complaints against him were upheld
The MailOnline understand that the BBC have told the MasterChef production company Banijay that the show should reduce Gregg and John’s screen time to a minimum in light of the report’s findings.
A source said: ‘The BBC have made it clear that it should limit the amount of airtime the presenters have in the editing of the new series, with a bigger focus on the contestants who are at the heart of the competition.’
‘Neither Gregg nor John will appear in BBC iPlayer thumbnails and they will not be doing any promotional activity around the latest series.’
‘All of the brilliant new contestants were consulted on whether the series should be broadcast, and no one objected.’
‘Everyone involved is very keen to promote the hard work of the contestants and that will be our priority.’
The BBC said it had taken the decision to broadcast the unaired series ‘after careful consideration and consultation with the contestants’.
In a statement, the corporation said: ‘MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey.’
The BBC also said it had not yet taken a decision on the completed celebrity series and Christmas special, filmed with Torode and food critic Grace Dent.
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The BBC also said it had not yet taken a decision on the completed celebrity series and Christmas special, filmed with Torode (left) and food critic Grace Dent (right)
In its statement, the BBC said: ‘This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it.
‘In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC.
‘However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.’
The BBC concluded its statement by describing MasterChef as ‘a brilliant, much-loved programme which is bigger than any one individual’.
‘There are many talented, dedicated and hard-working people who make the show what it is. It will continue to flourish on the BBC and we look forward to it returning stronger than ever in the future.’
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The corporation has revealed that the amateur series of MasterChef filmed last year, before allegations against Gregg and John were upheld, will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6
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The MailOnline understand that the BBC have told the MasterChef production company Banijay that the show should reduce Gregg and John’s screen time to a minimum in light of the report’s findings
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The BBC said it had taken the decision to broadcast the unaired series ‘after careful consideration and consultation with the contestants’
But some people are not happy with the decision, including former workers on the show.
While former contestants on the show previously said that being on MasterChef can be ‘life-changing’ for them.
Some of the women who came forward with claims against Gregg have said they didn’t think it should be shown.
One former MasterChef worker told BBC News it would show ‘a real lack of respect’ to people like her if the series was aired, while another warned it would ‘make a mockery’ of the people who have spoken out.
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