Second contestant edited out of Gregg Wallace and John Torode’s final series

BBC/Shine TVJohn Torode, left, and Gregg Wallace have introduced MasterChef since 2005A second MasterChef contestant has been edited out of this yr’s scandal-hit sequence, BBC Information can reveal.A spokesperson for the present’s manufacturing firm, Banijay, mentioned: “One different contributor determined that given latest occasions they want to not be included. We now have after all accepted their needs and edited them out of the present.”One other contestant, Sarah Shafi, was additionally faraway from the sequence after asking for it to not be broadcast, following a report which upheld claims towards hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.The BBC determined to nonetheless present this yr’s newbie sequence, which was filmed earlier than the pair had been sacked, saying it was “the proper factor to do” for the cooks who took half.Nevertheless it confronted a backlash from some ladies who got here ahead, whereas the published union Bectu mentioned unhealthy behaviour “shouldn’t be rewarded with prime-time protection”.Former Superstar MasterChef contestant and BBC journalist Kirsty Wark additionally steered the BBC might have refilmed the sequence with out the 2 co-hosts.Within the occasion, each Wallace and Torode stay within the sequence, which started final week on BBC One and on iPlayer.However the episodes seem to have been edited to incorporate fewer jokes than typical, with much less chat between them and the cooks.The episode which might have featured the second contestant was broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday evening, however solely featured 5 cooks quite than the standard six.BBC Information understands the person has requested to not be recognized and they won’t characteristic within the present.It is believed Shafi’s episode has not but aired.The BBC beforehand mentioned it had not been “a simple choice” to run the sequence, including that there was “widespread help” among the many cooks for it going forward.”In displaying the sequence, which was filmed final yr, it by no means diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings towards each presenters,” it mentioned.”Nevertheless, we imagine that broadcasting this sequence is the proper factor to do for these cooks who’ve given a lot to the method. We would like them to be correctly recognised and provides the viewers the selection to look at the sequence.”Upheld complaintsThe controversy over MasterChef began final yr, when BBC Information first revealed claims of misconduct towards Wallace.Final month, a report by the present’s manufacturing firm Banijay revealed that 83 complaints had been made towards Wallace with greater than 40 upheld, together with one in every of unwelcome bodily contact and one other three of being in a state of undress.He has insisted he was cleared of “essentially the most critical and sensational allegations”.In a latest interview with The Solar, he mentioned he was “so sorry” to anybody he harm, however insisted that he was “not a groper, a intercourse pest or a flasher”.The upheld criticism towards Torode associated to a severely offensive racist time period allegedly used on the set of MasterChef in 2018.The presenter mentioned he had “no recollection” of it and that any racist language is “wholly unacceptable”.Wallace will likely be changed by Irish chef Anna Haugh within the remaining episodes of the brand new sequence, as that’s when the allegations towards him first emerged throughout filming in November.