Second MasterChef contestant edited out of new series
According to BBC News, a second MasterChef contestant has been edited out of this year's scandal-plagued programme.
"One other contributor decided that, given recent events, they would not be included," a spokesperson for the production company, Banijay, said. "We have, of course, listened to their wishes and edited them out of the programme."
Sara Shafi, another contestant, was also removed from the series following an investigation into allegations against hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The BBC decided to continue airing this year's amateur series, which was filmed before the pair were dismissed, saying it was "the right thing to do" for the chefs who appeared on the show.
However, some women who came forward objected, while the broadcast union Bectu said misconduct "should not be rewarded with prime-time coverage". Kirsty Wark, a former Celebrity MasterChef contestant and BBC journalist, also suggested that the BBC should have re-filmed the show without the two co-hosts.
Both Wallace and Torode are in the series, which began on BBC One and iPlayer last week. However, the episodes appear to have been cut to include fewer jokes than usual, with less conversation between them and the chefs. On Wednesday night, the episode that would have featured the second contestant was shown on BBC One, but it only included five chefs rather than the usual six. According to BBC News, the individual has requested not to be identified and will not be included in the programme. Shafi's episode has yet to air.
The BBC previously said that not running the show had been "a feasible option", adding that there was "widespread approval" among the chefs for it to go ahead. "This in no way diminishes our belief in the findings upheld against both presenters in this series, which was shot last year," it said. "However, we agree that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have contributed so much to the process. We want them to be properly acknowledged and to give viewers the opportunity to watch the series."
Upheld Complaints
The controversy surrounding MasterChef began last year when BBC News first revealed allegations of misconduct against Wallace. Last month, an investigation by the show's production company, Banijay, revealed that while 83 claims against Wallace had been dismissed, one of unwelcome physical contact and three others relating to being in a state of undress were upheld. He has denied the "most serious and sensational charges" against him. In a recent interview with The Sun, he said he was "so sorry" to those he hurt but denied being "a groper, a sexual pest, or a flasher".
The upheld complaint against Torode relates to a "highly offensive racial slur" that was allegedly used on the MasterChef website in 2018. The host said he had "no recollection" of it and that any racist language is "completely unacceptable".
Wallace will be replaced by Irish chef Anna Haugh in the final episodes of the new series, as the allegations against him first emerged during filming in November.
