Celebrity chef John Torode has spoken publicly for the first time about undergoing therapy, five months after his career was upended by his sacking from the BBC's MasterChef. The 60-year-old was removed from the long-running cookery show following an allegation he used extremely offensive racist language in 2018, a claim he says he has no memory of.
A Career in Tatters and a Search for Honesty
Torode's dismissal from MasterChef came just weeks after his co-star Gregg Wallace, 61, was also sacked over separate allegations concerning sexualised behaviour on set. In a candid post on the writers' platform Substack, Torode acknowledged his life has changed forever. He wrote that his purpose was not to seek sympathy but to offer honesty about the profound personal impact of the events.
Learning to 'Sit in Grief' and Be 'Real'
The chef, who is married to actress Lisa Faulkner, 53, revealed that therapy over the past few months has been transformative. He stated it has entitled him to stop trying to "be brave" and instead learn how to be "real". Torode described a recent period working in Qatar where, for the first time, he truly "sat in my grief".
He elaborated on this breakthrough, writing: "This week I can proudly say that I have allowed the true hurt and sadness to flow through me without resistance." This marks a significant shift in how he is processing the very public fallout from the allegation and his subsequent firing.
Life After the Scandal and Looking Forward
Since the scandal broke, Torode has maintained a notably low public profile. However, there are signs of professional movement. ITV has recently commissioned a festive episode of John And Lisa's Weekend Kitchen, the show he presents with his wife. This suggests a potential path forward for his broadcasting career, albeit away from the BBC flagship that made him a household name.
The chef's heartfelt Substack newsletter provides a rare glimpse into the personal toll such high-profile controversies exact, focusing on emotional recovery rather than the specifics of the allegation he disputes.
