<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian-British celebrity chef John Torode has been sacked from his role presenting </span><em><span>MasterChef</span></em><span> in the UK after allegations he used racist language were upheld.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A spokesperson for the show's production company Banijay UK confirmed that his contract would not be renewed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, [the legal team at] Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint," they said today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bradley-john-murdoch-peter-falconio-killer-dead-after-cancer-battle/d00e74ef-e0aa-4b21-9862-b1b7a45fd6c8" target="_blank"><strong><span>Backpacker killer Bradley John Murdoch dies aged 67</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on </span><em><span>MasterChef</span></em><span>."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>BBC's director general Tim Davie told BBC News that the BBC "are taking this seriously" and have "drawn a line in the sand".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Torode claimed in a statement to Instagram that he learned about his sacking from news reports.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/masterchef-host-sacked-john-torode-racist-language-claim/810d5677-da36-4f7f-a9a4-b3816d9ce191" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or [production company] Banijay – I am seeing and reading that I've been 'sacked' from </span><em><span>MasterChef </span></em><span>and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of," he wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I hoped that I'd have some say in my exit from a show I've worked on since its relaunch in 2005, but events in the last few days seem to have prevented that."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He went on to say that he "loved every minute" working on the show and that it's "time to pass the cutlery to someone else".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Torode's exit comes just days after his former co-presenter Gregg Wallace was sacked following an inquiry into his behaviour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 40 of the 83 allegations against him were substantiated in a report commissioned by Banijay UK, including allegations of "unwelcome physical contact".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/weight-loss-medication-online-telehealth-subscription-services-eating-disorder-risk/e4edb39b-5a43-41e6-bd69-986639ce90a1" target="_blank"><strong><span>It's easier than ever for Aussies to buy weight loss drugs online. Experts say there should be more checks in place</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Allegations that Torode had used "an extremely offensive racist term" were also investigated and upheld.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Torode addressed the inquiry in a statement posted to Instagram yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately after," he wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"However, I want to be clear that I've always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Torode concluded that he was "shocked and saddened" by the allegations, adding that he "would never wish to cause anyone any offence".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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