{"id":287755,"date":"2025-11-28T11:33:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T11:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/287755\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T11:33:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T11:33:10","slug":"john-torode-makes-screen-return-with-itv-role-months-after-bbc-masterchef-axe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/287755\/","title":{"rendered":"John Torode makes screen return with ITV role months after BBC MasterChef axe"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Television chef John Torode is making his comeback to screens with a festive edition of his ITV cookery programme alongside wife Lisa Faulkner, several months following his axe from MasterChef.<\/p>\n<p>The broadcaster has revealed that the 60-year-old presenter will feature in its Christmas daytime schedule, presenting a holiday-themed version of John and Lisa&#8217;s Weekend Kitchen.<\/p>\n<p>This represents Mr Torode&#8217;s initial fresh television venture since his dismissal from the BBC cookery competition in July, when allegations emerged regarding his purported use of racist language.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement positions the Christmas programme as offering viewers seasonal cooking ideas and festive meal suggestions.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"93ed3\" data-rm-shortcode-id=\"6dbbedfa890c2a65e2e4163b12aab42a\" data-rm-shortcode-name=\"rebelmouse-image\" class=\"rm-shortcode rm-lazyloadable-image \" lazy-loadable=\"true\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%204910%202492'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-runner-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/john-torode-and-gregg-wallace.jpg\" width=\"4910\" height=\"2492\" alt=\"John Torode and Gregg Wallace\"\/><\/p>\n<p>John Torode and Gregg Wallace were axed from BBC MasterChef this year<\/p>\n<p> | <\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p>Whilst Mr Torode has remained visible on television through previously recorded episodes of both MasterChef and his ITV programme, this special edition signifies his first newly commissioned work post-controversy.<\/p>\n<p>The presenter&#8217;s removal from MasterChef occurred after an inquiry into fellow host Gregg Wallace&#8217;s conduct revealed the allegation against Mr Torode. <\/p>\n<p>Mr Wallace had been dismissed from the programme mere days earlier.<\/p>\n<p>When the investigation&#8217;s findings became public, Mr Torode acknowledged being the individual accused of employing discriminatory terminology but refuted the claim, asserting he possessed no recollection of any such occurrence.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"8d536\" data-rm-shortcode-id=\"cfab0a0bac11f6c45262d3f91abfe5f7\" data-rm-shortcode-name=\"rebelmouse-image\" class=\"rm-shortcode rm-lazyloadable-image \" lazy-loadable=\"true\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201200%20800'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-runner-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/lisa-faulkner-and-john-torode.jpg\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Lisa Faulkner and John Torode\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Lisa Faulkner and John Torode will both star in the ITV show<\/p>\n<p> | <\/p>\n<p>GETTY<\/p>\n<p>The accusation was characterised as historical in nature and emerged during the broader examination of workplace behaviour on the programme.<\/p>\n<p>His departure from the long-running BBC cookery competition came after years of presenting alongside Mr Wallace, marking a significant shift for the programme that had established both as household names in British television cooking shows.<\/p>\n<p>The network chose to proceed with broadcasting the cookery programme in August, despite the surrounding controversy.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the Edinburgh Television Festival, ITV&#8217;s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo explained the decision, stating he &#8220;felt it was a bit much for us to jump on the bandwagon and just deny these shows to go out&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"434da\" data-rm-shortcode-id=\"309f351fb9449acfc3f38b076b0c7285\" data-rm-shortcode-name=\"rebelmouse-image\" class=\"rm-shortcode rm-lazyloadable-image \" lazy-loadable=\"true\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202988%204482'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-runner-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1764329589_995_lisa-faulkner-and-john-torode.jpg\" width=\"2988\" height=\"4482\" alt=\"Lisa Faulkner and John Torode\"\/><\/p>\n<p>John Torode will make his TV return alongside wife Lisa Faulkner <\/p>\n<p> | <\/p>\n<p>GETTY<\/p>\n<p>Lygo revealed that the network had conducted its own inquiries, adding: &#8220;We asked the producers if they had heard of any incidences and they said no.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The decision meant that episodes of John and Lisa&#8217;s Weekend Kitchen filmed prior to the MasterChef controversy would continue to air as scheduled.<\/p>\n<p>This approach contrasted with how some broadcasters have handled similar situations, where programmes featuring controversial figures have been pulled from schedules entirely.<\/p>\n<p>The presenter continues to appear in the ongoing Celebrity MasterChef series alongside Grace Dent, who replaced Wallace for the programme. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"3e648\" data-rm-shortcode-id=\"79ccdfb21e7f1b57779c92c5cc13353a\" data-rm-shortcode-name=\"rebelmouse-image\" class=\"rm-shortcode rm-lazyloadable-image \" lazy-loadable=\"true\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201200%20800'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-runner-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1764329590_328_lisa-faulkner-and-john-torode.jpg\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Lisa Faulkner and John Torode\"\/><\/p>\n<p>John Torode will feature in ITV&#8217;s Christmas daytime schedule<\/p>\n<p> | <\/p>\n<p>PA<\/p>\n<p>This represents the final instalment of MasterChef recorded with Mr Torode in his presenting role.<\/p>\n<p>The Christmas special forms part of ITV&#8217;s broader festive daytime programming, which includes seasonal editions of various shows. Loose Women will broadcast on Christmas Day for the first time, joining the network&#8217;s regular morning programmes.<\/p>\n<p>Additional holiday programming features James Martin&#8217;s Christmas Day, Sara Davies&#8217; Christmas Craft Off, and Alan Titchmarsh&#8217;s Love Your Christmas. <\/p>\n<p>Mel Giedroyc will provide narration for A Warwick Christmas Castle, whilst Kelvin Fletcher returns with both a festive farming special and a crafting programme.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Television chef John Torode is making his comeback to screens with a festive edition of his ITV cookery&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":287756,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[243,6491,830,96,347,2331,391,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-287755","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-bbc","9":"tag-celebrities","10":"tag-celebrity","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-itv","13":"tag-sgg","14":"tag-tv","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=287755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287755\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/287756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=287755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=287755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=287755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}