John Torode’s ITV cooking show with wife Lisa Faulkner ‘set to be axed’ five months after he was sacked by the BBC
JOHN Torode’s ITV cooking show is set to be axed in the new year.
Insiders said John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, which he hosts with wife Lisa Faulkner, 53, was likely to be rested.
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John Torode’s ITV cooking show John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen is set to be axed in the new yearCredit: PA
Torode was sacked by the BBC five months ago over alleged inappropriate comments on MasterChef, which he denies, with co-host Gregg Wallace also dismissedCredit: BBC/Shine TV
A source said the TV chef is facing a nervous wait over the future of Weekend Kitchen, though he is pushing ahead with wife Lisa on a new YouTube cooking projectCredit: ITV
It comes five months after he was sacked by the BBC over alleged inappropriate language he used making MasterChef.
John, 60, who denied using a racist slur, was dismissed alongside co-host Gregg Wallace.
A source said: “John is facing a nervous wait about Weekend Kitchen but it’s not looking good.
“The commissioning team have still not made a decision. Budgets are being slashed and the show is expensive to make.
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“It will be a major blow to John. He had a really tough time after being sacked from the BBC. He is pushing forward with Lisa and is working hard on a new YouTube cooking show which has been well-received.
“Naturally, he’s hoping his ITV show will get a redeeming nod but he’s prepared for the worst.”
Initially, ITV stood by John following his MasterChef sacking.
The Sun revealed in July that the broadcaster had held crisis talks over whether to air the rest of this series.
A source said then: “ITV have never had any issues with John and they’ve never had any complaints or concerns about his conduct.”
ITV’s director of media and entertainment, Kevin Lygo, confirmed the report and said he “felt it was a bit much for us to jump on the bandwagon and just deny these shows to go out”.
Mr Lygo added: “We asked the producers if they had heard of any incidents and they said no.”
John And Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen started in 2019.
The final episode of series ten will air on Saturday.
John lost his job on MasterChef after an independent investigation. The BBC said in a statement: “John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language.
“This allegation — which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace — was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by law firm Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.”
Those close to the chef told The Sun he was blindsided by his sacking and said he learned of his fate on BBC News.
The BBC continued to air Celebrity MasterChef with John and Grace Dent, who replaced Wallace, during the investigation.
Drag artist Ginger Johnson won the series last week.
It marked John’s final appearance on the BBC show, which he hosted with Wallace for two decades.
The BBC continued to air Celebrity MasterChef with Torode and Grace Dent, above, who replaced Wallace, during the investigationCredit: PA
