John Torode to take legal action against BBC after MasterChef sacking

John Torode is reportedly preparing to take legal action against the BBC after he was axed from MasterChef. The Australian chef was ditched from the cooking show after a historic allegation against him using "an extremely offensive racist term" in a recent report was upheld. In a statement, John said he had "no recollection" of it happening and recalled how he'd only found out his contract had been terminated after the Beeb and producers Banijay had put out the news.

Now, sources close to the dad-of-three claim he's speaking to employment lawyers as he fights to "clear his name". The insider told the Mirror: "John is preparing to launch the lawsuit against the BBC.

"He wants to pursue them for unfair dismissal. He's telling people there is no proof of his supposed comment. It was not in a work capacity, it was just hearsay. John is determined to clear his name." Express.co.uk has reached out to John Torode's representative for a comment.

Torode, 59, followed his MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace footsteps after they were both given the boot, with the outlet claiming Torode had allegedly used racist language.

The culinary star continues to insist he had no knowledge of the "offensive" comment he was accused of making, despite lawyers Lewis Silkin upholding the complaint, thought to be from 2018 in their independent investigation into the series.

The revelation comes after the firm upheld 45 out of the 83 claims made against Wallace, 60, including "unwanted physical contact", "being in a state of undress", bullying and inappropriate jokes.

Torode himself revealed that he was the subject on an allegation, insisting: "I do not believe that it happened". The source told the move took the BBC by surprise.

They said: "John is a tough talking Aussie and does not stand to ceremony. The BBC were not expecting John Torode to jump the fun about the comment and make a statement."

The MasterChef production company Banijay UK claimed they had discussed the matter with Torode and with the BBC and that they "are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef."

But in a statement Torode released on Tuesday night (July 15), he said: "Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay, I am seeing and reading I've been 'sacked' from MasterChef.

"I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of. The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong."

He revealed that Celebrity MasterChef, which he recently filmed with food critic Grace Dent in addition to two Christmas specials, would be his last.

Torode added: "Personally, I have loved every minute working on MasterChef, but it's time to pass the cutlery to someone else."

Speaking to BBC News on Tuesday afternoon (July 15), BBC Director General Tim Davie described the allegation against the chef as "a serious racist term which does not get to be acceptable in any way, shape, or form. It's really important we are taking this seriously. We've drawn a line in the sand."