MasterChef bosses took a “what happens on set stays on set” approach to the “banter culture” on the show, insiders have said after both of the programme’s presenters were fired.

The BBC has been urged to look into its workplace culture after an independent probe into Gregg Wallace’s behaviour led to his exit along with co-host John Torode.

The investigation substantiated 45 complaints of misconduct against Wallace – mostly claims of inappropriate sexual language, as well as one upheld allegation of “unwelcome physical contact”.

Torode was axed from the cooking show after the same review upheld a complaint about him using a racist phrase. The chef said he had “no recollection of the incident” supposed to have happened in 2018 or 2019 and does “not believe that it happened”. However, the BBC said it could “not tolerate racist language of any kind”.

People who worked with Wallace and Torode on MasterChef told The i Paper what they were like on set.

‘Wallace and Torode didn’t seem pally’

One male production crew member, who worked on the cooking show between 2005 and 2006, claimed Wallace regularly made inappropriate sexual comments.

He said Torode was “a pretty discreet guy, very straight down the middle and professional – a very different character to Gregg.

“You never saw them talking off set, they did not seem pally. John would not admonish Gregg [for sexual comments]. He just wouldn’t get involved.”

The ex-crew member said he felt “a degree of sympathy” for Torode after his exit in the wake of the Lewis Silkin report. “I think the BBC probably thinks the whole culture at MasterChef is rotten, so they need to get rid of both.”

The BBC said Torode’s remark was “an extremely offensive racist term” used in the workplace. “We will not tolerate racist language of any kind,” said the corporation, adding that action had to be taken.

The source said Wallace would make “rude, obscene jokes in front of contestants”, but was “even more lewd away from contestants”.

As previously reported in The i Paper, the production crew member claimed that Wallace asked a younger, female member of the team a crude question about her sex life.

They said the inappropriate humour did not spread to other staff, with Wallace an outlier. “There was a lot of forced laughter to keep him happy,” he said, adding that “most of what he said wasn’t funny.

“The attitude was, what happens on the set stays on set. It was very close-knit and protective of Gregg – because everyone quickly learned that Gregg Wallace was a liability and you need to make sure that other people don’t find out.

“Senior executive producers would have known about his behaviour.”

‘Producers didn’t shut down banter culture’

The Lewis Silkin lawyers who led the investigation found that complaints procedures at the production company behind MasterChef, Banijay UK, were inadequate, with staffers reluctant to speak out about inappropriate behaviour in case it cost them their jobs.

“The banter culture, to put it mildly, at MasterChef was widely known in the industry but the producers didn’t try to shut it down,” an industry insider claimed. “The people in power who enabled Wallace should also face accountability.”

Another TV industry figure said: “The ruthless dispatch of John Torode in particular shows we are in a different era of workplace culture.

“But a change of presenters doesn’t mean the production company can just evade responsibility for what happened over many years. The BBC should review the culture there. Can the same people remain in charge for the new MasterChef era?”

A friend of Wallace added: “The presenters have paid the price now but what about the people who presided over the culture on MasterChef for years?”

On Tuesday, the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie insisted that MasterChef “absolutely” had a future and was “much bigger than individuals”.

However, Davie said the BBC had to “make sure we’re in the right place in terms of the culture of the show” and would not tolerate behaviour that is “not in line with our values”.

Banijay UK pointed out that the Lewis Silkin report did not suggest that individuals were at fault. It is understood senior management has also changed significantly since the period leading up to 2018.

The Lewis Silkin report found that the “vast majority” of the allegations heard about Wallace related to behaviour between 2005 and 2018.

New MasterChef series likely to be aired

Richard Osman, the BBC presenter and best-selling novelist, who is well-connected within the TV industry, said he understood that the unbroadcast MasterChef series presented by Torode and Wallace would now be aired.

Osman told the Rest Is Entertainment podcast: “The feeling at the BBC and the feeling at Banijay, having talked to everyone who has been on that show, is they would like to show it because they’ve spoken to, I think, pretty much every single contestant. The contestants are saying, ‘We would be gutted if this doesn’t go out.’

“So I think, well, I’d be fairly confident in saying that the current plan is to show that series.”

The BBC said a decision on the amateur chef challenge series would be announced soon.

The Celebrity MasterChef series presented by Torode and Grace Dent would also be broadcast later this year, Osman predicted.

Patrick Holland, chief executive at Banijay UK, said the Lewis Silkin report had highlighted “failures in legacy reporting and HR procedures”.

But he said ways of reporting concerns had “improved exponentially in recent years” and the company would be creating an externally run whistleblowing service.

The BBC warned Wallace he needed to change his behaviour after a complaint in 2017. He then “took steps to heed that warning”, according to the Lewis Silkin report.

But Wallace was reportedly told in a letter of dismissal last week that the BBC did not have the confidence he could change his behaviour.

The BBC previously said that Wallace’s behaviour fell “below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us”.

MasterChef contestant: Wallace was charming

Some contestants who appeared on MasterChef in recent years said they had found Wallace charming on set.

Haddy Duval, a quarter-finalist on the last series of MasterChef, shown in spring 2024, told The i Paper she was “shocked” by the Lewis Silkin report since she had not heard Wallace make any sexual comments.

“Gregg was so warm and welcoming – he made me feel at home. He was down to Earth,” said the 30-year-old from Bournemouth. “He did make a lot of jokes. But I didn’t really get them because I was concentrating on the cooking.”

Duval said Wallace and Torode “played good cop, bad cop”, adding: “John would go to the point and give you the absolute truth. Gregg would try to make friendly jokes to make you feel better.”

Responding to the results of the Lewis Silkin report, Wallace said he was “deeply sorry for any distress” he caused, adding: “Some of my humour and language missed the mark.”

He said he was relieved the report “fully recognises that my behaviour changed profoundly in 2018”.

Wallace also said he had “challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused”.

The Lewis Silkin report acknowledged that Wallace was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and the findings “should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity”.

In a statement on Tuesday, Torode said he had “no recollection of what I’m accused of”, adding: “The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong.”

A representative for Torode was approached for comment. Wallace declined to comment.