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BBC Airs Edited MasterChef After Hosts’ Dismissal

An inquiry substantiating historic misconduct has prompted BBC to broadcast MasterChef with curtailed hosts following the removal of one contestant.

Overview

  • Gregg Wallace and John Torode were permanently dismissed and banned after a Lewis Silkin inquiry upheld 45 of 83 misconduct allegations against Wallace and confirmed an extremely offensive racist remark by Torode.
  • This week’s MasterChef episodes feature heavily edited footage, with the hosts’ screen time reduced and contestant Sarah Shafi excised after she complained of unwelcome attention.
  • Christopher Biggins defended his and Wallace’s past behaviour as a bygone norm by admitting he once groped women onstage, a stance sharply criticised by advocacy groups.
  • Refuge ambassador Sharon Gaffka described non-consensual touching as sexual assault and called for stronger workplace safeguards in television production.
  • The BBC has re-examined duty-of-care policies and edited or cancelled pre-recorded content featuring the hosts, reflecting a broader industry move toward zero-tolerance harassment standards.