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| John Torode sacked as MasterChef presenter | John Torode sacked as MasterChef presenter |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| John Torode has been sacked as MasterChef presenter after an allegation against him using "an extremely offensive racist term" was upheld. | |
| On Monday, the TV chef said he had "no recollection" of the incident, adding: "I do not believe that it happened." | On Monday, the TV chef said he had "no recollection" of the incident, adding: "I do not believe that it happened." |
| But in a statement on Tuesday, the show's production company Banijay UK said it and the BBC "are agreed" that his contract on the show will not be renewed. | |
| It plunges the BBC cooking show into a deeper crisis, after more than 40 separate allegations against Torode's co-host Gregg Wallace were also upheld as part of an inquiry into his conduct. | It plunges the BBC cooking show into a deeper crisis, after more than 40 separate allegations against Torode's co-host Gregg Wallace were also upheld as part of an inquiry into his conduct. |
| The controversy over MasterChef started last year, when BBC News first revealed claims of inappropriate sexual language against Wallace. | The controversy over MasterChef started last year, when BBC News first revealed claims of inappropriate sexual language against Wallace. |
| Wallace was sacked last week as dozens more people came forward to BBC News with allegations against him. He has always denied the claims. | Wallace was sacked last week as dozens more people came forward to BBC News with allegations against him. He has always denied the claims. |
| A BBC spokesperson said: "John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. | |
| "This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. | |
| "John Torode denies the allegation. He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. | |
| "The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. 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 on MasterChef will not be renewed." |