ITV's long-running cookery series Weekend Kitchen, hosted by married couple John Torode and Lisa Faulkner, has been put on ice for 2026, following Torode's sacking from BBC1's MasterChef last year. The Sunday show, which ran for 10 series, will not air at all this year and possibly beyond, amid ITV budget cuts and just days after Faulkner announced she had undergone treatment for early-stage breast cancer.
Show Paused, Not Cancelled
Despite the setback, the couple remain hopeful that Weekend Kitchen could be revived in some form. An insider said: “John remains a regular contributor to This Morning, where he has been fully supported by everyone, including hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley. The truth is there are no current plans for series 11 of Weekend Kitchen but no final decision has yet been made over whether it will return in the future. And John is very much a part of the ITV family through his role as a regular chef on This Morning.”
Sources suggested it was “quite normal” for weekend daytime formats to be rested to try out new programming, even though this has not happened before for Weekend Kitchen, which launched in 2019 and became a staple of ITV's weekend schedule. “Conversations are happening, it could be back in some form or another,” one added.
Torode's Role on This Morning Continues
The Australian-born chef, 60, has appeared on This Morning's cookery slot 11 times this year, with more appearances scheduled. ITV bosses have stood by Torode since his abrupt departure from MasterChef over allegations he used racist language in 2018. The scandal came to light as part of a wider investigation into claims of sexual harassment and misuse of power against co-host Gregg Wallace, who was also sacked.
Torode has said he has “no recollection” of using racist language, and it has been suggested he was joining in with a Kanye West song lyric. However, the BBC said in a statement: “This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin. The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”
Budget Cuts Hit ITV Daytime
ITV is making difficult decisions amid budget cuts that have already affected soaps and other daytime shows, including Lorraine, Good Morning Britain, and Loose Women. Last year, Weekend Kitchen's tenth series launched in early July, with five more episodes airing in the run-up to Christmas. Announcing it, the pair said they felt “so grateful” to make it, adding: “We have such an amazing team who give us so much freedom to just cook together and it’s always the food we love and believe in. We never take it for granted as we just love doing our show.”
New Formats in the Slot
ITV intends to test “new formats” in the Sunday morning slot, with Ainsley Harriott making a third run of his Fantastic Flavours series, featuring food from around the world and celebrity guests. Meanwhile, John and Lisa have launched a YouTube channel where they film themselves cooking recipes at home for fans who want to continue with their cookalongs.
Faulkner's Health Update
This week, Lisa Faulkner, 54, revealed she has undergone treatment for breast cancer that was caught early thanks to a routine mammogram. In a social media video, she explained she had surgery in June and has since received the all-clear from doctors. “It was quite a big op, but it’s all good, and I’ve had my results back, and they’ve got everything out, and so it’s all clear, and I just need now to have some radiotherapy in a few weeks,” she said. “I’ve still got quite a bit of healing to do, but I’m good, I’m well, and feeling so much better.”
The actress and presenter urged others to attend check-ups, adding that if she had not gone for her breast screening, the cancer would not have been picked up.
