ITV's popular cookery programme Weekend Kitchen, presented by husband-and-wife duo John Torode and Lisa Faulkner, is reportedly on the brink of being cancelled. This comes despite the broadcaster's earlier pledge to stand by Torode following his high-profile dismissal from the BBC's MasterChef earlier this year.
The Fallout from MasterChef Exit
The 60-year-old chef was fired by the BBC after an independent investigation substantiated an allegation that he had used 'extremely offensive racist language' in 2018. Torode has consistently stated he has 'no recollection' of the incident and does not believe it happened. His exit from the BBC occurred just weeks after his co-star, Gregg Wallace, 61, was also dismissed over a series of allegations concerning his sexualised behaviour on set.
Despite ITV initially holding crisis talks and deciding to air the remainder of the tenth series of Weekend Kitchen, the show's future now looks bleak. A festive special this Saturday is set to be its final episode. A source revealed, 'John is facing a nervous wait about Weekend Kitchen but it's not looking good. The commissioning team have still not made a decision. Budgets are being slashed and the show is expensive to make.'
A Major Blow and a New Direction
The potential axing of the show, which debuted in 2019—the same year Torode married actress Lisa Faulkner—would represent a significant professional setback. The insider added, 'It will be a major blow to John. He had a really tough time after being sacked from the BBC.'
In response to the turmoil, Torode has been focusing on new projects and personal wellbeing. He and Faulkner are working hard on a new YouTube cooking show, which has been well-received. Furthermore, Torode recently disclosed that he has been undergoing therapy to cope with the fallout from his sacking. In a post on Substack, he wrote that therapy had allowed him to 'no longer "be brave" but instead be real' and to learn how to 'sit in his grief.'
Broadcaster Stance and Uncertain Future
When questioned earlier about continuing with Weekend Kitchen after the BBC scandal, ITV's director of media and entertainment, Kevin Lygo, suggested it would be excessive to 'jump on the bandwagon' and pull the show. However, with budgets under pressure and a final decision on recommissioning still pending, the programme's fate hangs in the balance.
The BBC remained firm on its decision regarding Torode's MasterChef departure, stating: 'We will not tolerate racist language of any kind... John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.' As for the ITV show, a representative for the channel declined to comment on the reports of its cancellation.
