Celebrities in the world of showbiz have supported John Torode after he was sacked from his role on MasterChef.
MasterChef’s veteran host John Torode was left seething after discovering he’d been axed from the culinary competition, having stumbled upon the announcement on the BBC’s own website.
The 59-year-old presenter was reportedly shattered when the BBC and production company Banijay confirmed his departure following allegations of racist language.
This bombshell follows shortly after the corporation severed ties with his co-presenter Gregg Wallace, in light of 45 upheld misconduct claims.
The BBC released a statement saying: “John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language. This allegation, which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace, was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by law firm Lewis Silkin.
Both Gregg and John have been axed from MasterChef(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
“John Torode denies the allegation. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode’s contract will not be renewed.”It is believed that John’s agent was given a mere 11 minutes’ heads-up before the news broke to the public, reports the Express.
John Torode has been dropped from MasterChef(Image: Getty)
In the wake of the controversy, celebrities are rallying behind John, with Loose Women star Jane Moore expressing her disbelief in her recent Sun column.
She wrote: “What the hell? Even serial killers get to see the evidence against them and put up a defence in court.
“But in the world of corporate HR, it seems that a Caesar-like thumbs up or down is delivered on someone’s reputation and career without the chance to mount a robust challenge.”
Jane Moore lashed out in her column over John’s axing(Image: Getty)
Taking to Instagram, a defiant John declared: “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.
“I have loved every minute working on MasterChef, but it’s time to pass the cutlery to someone else.”
Meanwhile, McFly’s Danny Jones showed support by liking John’s Instagram post, in which he expressed his bewilderment at being axed from the programme.