Overview

• The first episodes of the 21st MasterChef series premiered on August 6 on BBC iPlayer and BBC One with co-hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode heavily trimmed.
• The BBC and Banijay UK undertook an eleventh-hour editing push after an independent Lewis Silkin inquiry upheld 45 allegations against Wallace and one racist-language finding against Torode.
• Contestant Sarah Shafi was removed from the series at her request in protest over the decision to broadcast following upheld misconduct complaints.
• Broadcast union Bectu and several whistleblowers criticised the airing as disregarding complainants’ wellbeing, while most contestants said they supported having their efforts shown.
• Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she would not watch the series but defended editorial independence, and the BBC has not yet decided on airing its celebrity and Christmas specials.