The upcoming season of MasterChef is set to premiere on August 6, yet there is increasing pressure on the BBC to cancel the final season that includes the recently dismissed hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Philippa Childs, head of the broadcasting union Bectu, has urged the BBC to “rethink its plan to air the new series of MasterChef.”
Her comments follow a wave of media attention stemming from a protest by a contestant of the new season. The contestant criticized the BBC’s decision and claimed she was consequently edited out of the show.
Childs expressed concern today about the lack of consultation with those who had lodged complaints: “While the BBC has engaged with the contestants, it seems they have not consulted with those who have lodged complaints; freelancers who have bravely spoken out and who will inevitably feel upset seeing the show broadcast multiple times a week for the following two months.”
Deadline reports that Bectu plans to discuss the MasterChef controversy in its regular meetings with the broadcaster. The union represents numerous freelancers in the UK television industry, many of whom, according to Childs, would feel “undoubtedly affected” by the airing of the series next week. MasterChef remains one of the BBC’s flagship series, and decisions are still pending regarding the future of its Celebrity and Christmas specials that also feature Torode.
The dilemma about airing the already-recorded season of MasterChef arose following the firing of Wallace and Torode last month, after a review by Banijay confirmed certain allegations against them. Despite this, BBC’s Director General Tim Davie indicated a preference to broadcast the series, mentioning his “primary concern” was for the amateur chefs who “dedicated themselves fully to the show.” The BBC later stated, “We believe airing this series respects the efforts of these contestants.”
“Absolutely flabbergasted”
Although the BBC plans to air the show on both its linear channel and iPlayer and has reportedly made edits to minimize Wallace and Torode’s presence, the two still appear frequently throughout the show.
During an appearance on Newsnight, disgruntled former contestant Sarah Shafi spoke out against the BBC’s decision, proposing instead that the broadcaster should “create a special program featuring the top 10 contestants of this season’s MasterChef, to clearly distance themselves from the unacceptable behavior and take a stand.”
“They offered what they thought was a solution by editing me out,” Shafi added. “I was stunned and said, ‘I’m absolutely flabbergasted; how is that a solution?’.”
Shafi emphasized her dismay at being removed, especially as a woman, given that the majority of the allegations against Wallace, who has apologized for “inappropriate language” used between 2005 and 2018 but denied more severe charges, were from women. Torode has acknowledged an incident where he used racially insensitive language, which was confirmed by the review, though he claimed not to remember it, and has apologized as well.
In response to the comments made by Childs and Shafi, the BBC referred Deadline to its statement from the previous week concerning its decision to proceed with the latest season.
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