Former MasterChef presenter John Torode has broken his silence following his dramatic exit from the BBC show, launching a fierce defence of his character and reserving special praise for his replacement, Grace Dent.
A Public Defence and a Tribute
In a candid post on his Substack, the 60-year-old television star addressed the controversy that led to his dismissal. Torode, who was let go from the programme in July after 21 years, described the group of people who have criticised him as a "cult." He contrasted this with the unwavering support he has received from food critic and broadcaster Grace Dent.
Writing on 5th January 2026, Torode hailed Dent as a "strong extraordinary woman" who stands up for her beliefs. "Grace stands up for all that she believes in and supports," he wrote. "Graceful and never scared of doing the right thing or worried that the cult might too ostracize her. It was a privilege to stand by her side. Her support unfailing."
Dent, 52, who starred alongside Torode on Celebrity MasterChef before his sacking, has publicly backed him in the past. She has previously called him "one of the kindest, most concerned, clever, thoughtful men that I know." She recently reinforced that support by sharing a series of pictures of the pair together after the Celebrity MasterChef final aired.
The BBC's Stance and Ongoing Fallout
The BBC terminated Torode's contract after an independent investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin upheld a complaint that he had used "an extremely offensive racist term" during production, an allegation he continues to deny. The corporation stated it "will not tolerate racist language of any kind" and instructed the show's producers, Banijay UK, to take action.
Torode's on-screen partner, Gregg Wallace, was also dismissed in July. A separate report upheld more than 40 allegations about Wallace's conduct, including one of unwelcome physical contact and three instances of being in a state of undress. Wallace, who was diagnosed with autism last year, has since submitted a claim at the High Court seeking up to £10,000 in damages from the BBC for alleged distress and harassment related to his data access requests.
Personal Resilience and Moving Forward
Amid the professional turmoil, Torode credited his wife, Lisa Faulkner – whom he met on Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 and married in 2019 – as his personal anchor. He described the 53-year-old actress as his "Rock, my best friend, my love, my wife, a Wonder Woman."
Torode has previously spoken about how therapy helped him cope with the "unexpected and brutal life change" of his firing from the hit culinary series. As he rebuilds his career away from the MasterChef kitchen, his public appreciation for Grace Dent highlights a significant show of solidarity.
Meanwhile, Dent is forging ahead with her new role. She is currently filming her first edition of the regular MasterChef series as its main presenter, where she will be hosting alongside chef Anna Haugh, marking a new era for the long-running programme.
