Anthony Worrall Thompson, a celebrity chef and I’m A Celebrity alumnus, has declared that “the youngsters” should make their way onto MasterChef and slammed the outcry over its co-hosts as “irrelevant.”
Celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson has said cookery show MasterChef needs to “move on” from former hosts John Torode and Gregg Wallace. The 74-year-old, who has appeared on the programme over the years – as well as plenty of other cookery shows – claims it’s time for “the youngsters” to take their place.
The two long-standing hosts of MasterChef have both left the show over the last year, with both Wallace and Torode accused of behaving inappropriately over the course of their career. Wallace was axed from MasterChef after an independent investigation upheld 45 of 83 complaints against him, made by 41 individuals.
One upheld allegation goes back 15 years and involves Wallace touching a woman at a party. He admits to putting his hand on her bottom, but maintains that he thought the moment was consensual.
He claimed the woman had given him her phone number and personal information. He claims that this demonstrates mutual interest.
But now Anthony, who appeared on the second series of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity in 2003, says the row is “irrelevant”. Speaking to Kait Borsay on Times Radio, he said: “These commissioning editors would have made their minds up months ago about what programs they were going to commission.
I don’t see the Gregg Wallace thing as being significant. It’s unfortunate that Gregg Wallace and John Torode were on MasterChef.
We all have to let the young people enter, but they’re kind of like pieces of furniture when you want to move on. Unfortunately, it appears that the commissioners are unable to locate the replacements for us.
When questioned about the egos of chefs in the TV industry, he responded that TV hosts should be treated with respect. “We all try to keep it down, or some of us do, in any case,” said Anthony. I mean, I’ve always had a great crew of producers and great crew of directors, and the TV crew was fantastic.
And the runners, you know, the people who do the cooking in the back, you know, making sure everything is nice and perfect are the ones you have to look after on TV shows. Because those runners will one day be directors and have long memories, you know, you’re going to suffer if you abuse them.
Wallace, 60, insists that even the official report acknowledged his opinion of the conversation as being mutual. Another case that has been upheld is a case that Wallace made 18 years ago when he briefly emerged from his dressing room while wearing only a pair of socks over his genitalia. He claims it was a joke.
Meanwhile, his ex-co-star Torode, who has been hosting MasterChef for almost 20 years, recently acknowledged that he was allegedly using racist language following a Wallace-Wallace investigation. Torode alleged he never remembers making the comment and that he is now suing for damages.
Earlier this month, the BBC confirmed Torode’s contract will not be renewed, saying: “The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”
Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
READ MORE: Shoppers bag ‘beautiful’ Sarah Jessica Parker perfume for £2.40 in ‘cheaper than Amazon’ deal
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply