In a statement on Instagram, Torode, who has presented the cooking show alongside Wallace since 2005, said “the thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear, and I have found the recent press reports truly upsetting”.
John Torode and Gregg Wallace attend The Childline Ball 2019 partnered with MasterChef. Photo / Getty Images
He said: “Since last Friday, I have been away filming MasterChef overseas. I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it, and will continue to be part of it.
“During the last few days, I’ve been trying to make the best cookery programme, so being busy making the show and caring for our contestants has allowed me little time to think about anything else, but that has been hard.
“But as I hope everyone appreciates, there is an investigation under way, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.”
On Tuesday, the BBC announced that two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials, a Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza, had been pulled from its festive schedule.
The corporation said: “As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition, which is life-changing for the chefs taking part, and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.
“The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and, in the current circumstances, we have decided not to broadcast them.”
Three episodes of BBC Two’s Inside the Factory, which are repeats, are also coming out of the schedule.
Last week, Banijay UK, the production company behind the BBC show, announced that Wallace, 60, would be “stepping away from his role on MasterChef” following complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct.
Banijay UK announced an “immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate”, and said Wallace was “committed to fully co-operating throughout the process”.
Gregg Wallace after being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the Princess Royal in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on February 28, 2023 in Windsor, England. Photo / Getty Images
On Tuesday night, Wallace faced fresh allegations, with BBC News reporting that one woman said he touched her bottom after an event and another said he pressed his crotch against her while filming on a different show.
His lawyers have previously strongly denied that “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, according to BBC News.
Torode became a familiar face to TV audiences in 1996 as the resident chef on ITV’s This Morning.
MasterChef launched in 2005 as a revamped version of the original 1990-2001 series, which was hosted by Loyd Grossman. The 2005 series, which was called MasterChef Goes Large and was won by Thomasina Miers, reverted to its original name in 2008.
The success of the programme led to spin-off shows such as Junior MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.
