Lisa Faulkner has expressed her heartfelt gratitude to fans for their kind messages following the dismissal of her husband, John Torode, from MasterChef. The 53-year-old actress and cook took to Instagram to acknowledge the public support, saying, “Thank you for all your really lovely comments – they really mean a lot.” Her message comes days after Torode, 60, was reportedly let go as host of the long-running BBC series after an allegation involving the use of “an extremely offensive racist term” was upheld.
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Torode, who has presented the show since its 2005 relaunch, released a statement maintaining that he has “no recollection” of making any such remark. He criticised the investigation for being vague, noting that “the enquiry could not even state the date or year” of the alleged incident. Torode also expressed disappointment at not being given the opportunity to shape the terms of his departure from the programme, having dedicated nearly two decades to it.
Despite the controversy, Torode confirmed he has recently filmed Celebrity MasterChef alongside Grace Dent, including two festive specials, which will mark his final contributions to the franchise. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “Personally, I have loved every minute working on MasterChef, but it’s time to pass the cutlery to someone else.” He added that the experience of tasting thousands of dishes over the years had been both a joy and a challenge, joking that his stomach would welcome a break.
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Looking ahead, the Australian-born chef said he remains positive, focusing on new personal and professional ventures. “Life is ever-changing and ever-moving,” he said, “and sometimes personal happiness and fulfilment lay elsewhere.” While he may no longer appear on screen with MasterChef, Torode promised to “watch fondly from afar” as the show enters a new chapter with fresh talent at the helm.
