A SECOND contestant has been edited out of the latest series of MasterChef following the scandal surrounding its former hosts.
The aspiring chef, who asked not to be identified, didn’t want to appear on the show given “recent events”.
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It follows a report which upheld claims against axed hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Sarah Shafi was the first contestant to pull out of the show after telling producers it shouldn’t be aired.
The episode which would have featured the unnamed contestant was broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday, the BBC reported.
But it only featured five chefs rather than the usual six.
Sarah, from Leeds, believed airing Masterchef would send the wrong message about what happens after women report misbehaviour by powerful men.
The 57-year-old rejected an offer by the producers Banijay to edit her out of her episode, wanting them to axe it entirely.
She was “flabbergasted” by the suggestion, but agreed once it was announced the series would air.
A ‘HEATED’ CONVERSATION
She told The Guardian: “I said: ‘Axe the show, don’t air the show. I’m asking you not to air the show.’
“Prominent figures have been abusing their power. What message does that send out to women?”
The former contestant said she didn’t want to be part of a show with an “enabling environment”.
BBC botches bid to edit out sacked duo Gregg Wallace & John Torode from new Masterchef amid calls to axe scandal-hit show
It was said to be “quite a heated conversation”.
A spokesperson for production company Banijay said: “One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included,” the BBC reports.
“We have of course accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show.”
The latest series of MasterChef was hit with controversy in the weeks leading up to its launch, with hosts Wallace and Torode being axed from presenting future series.
However, the BBC ultimately decided to air series 21, which had already been filmed.
The latest episode – the fourth in its run – saw five amateur cooks enter the kitchen, rather than the usual six.
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EDITING BLUNDERS
But the long shot of the group outside walking towards the kitchen was missing, and instead, the edit featured close ups of their faces or in pairs.
Once inside, Wallace and Torode explained how two cooks would automatically go through to the next round after cooking their first dish.
In a bizarre moment, contestant Hazel gave a thankful nod before looking to the side, but as far as viewers could see, there was no one on Hazel’s left that she would need to acknowledge.
A spokesperson for Banijay previously said: “As we said when we announced the show would be aired, this was not an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone would agree with it.
“Banijay consulted with all the contestants before that decision was made and there was widespread support for it going ahead.
“The focus of the series is the contestants, as it always is.
“The edit has been looked at in light of the upheld findings.”
It comes after a report revealed more than 40 historic complaints against Wallace had been upheld, along with a claim that Torode once used a racist term.
Wallace, 60, was dropped from the BBC show in November 2024 after numerous allegations of inappropriate conduct in the workplace were made.
A BBC report which upheld 45 of 83 allegations of bad behaviour against Wallace also upheld a claim that a second person used a racial phrase once several years ago – which emerged to be Torode.
Torode accepted the allegation referred to him, but has denied the claims and said he has “no recollection” of the event.
Since being fired, Wallace himself has vowed he will never watch MasterChef again.
Asked if he will tune in to the show which he co-presented, he said: “No, no, no, no, never.”
He also told The Sun that he was not a “groper, a sex pest or a flasher”.
Wallace then backed former colleague Torode and said: “He is not a racist.“
MASTERCHEF SCANDAL TIMELINE
2005 to 2011: Problems with MasterChef began way back in the mid-2000s, with 27 substantiated claims made against host Gregg Wallace regarding alleged incidents in this period, according to a report by law firm Lewis Silkin.
Most of these were related to sexually explicit comments, although one allegation of unwanted physical contact in this period was also substantiated.
The same report found there was a failure by the production company to retain records of any actions taken during this time.
2012 to 2018: Another 17 allegations were upheld from this period, according to the report.
The production company behind MasterChef investigated an allegation about Wallace’s behaviour in 2015 – but he was not made aware of the complaint.
In 2016, the production company merged with Endemol, introducing more formal policies as well as regular training and anonymous reporting lines.
The BBC intervened in response to a complaint in 2017, after which Wallace was then warned to change his behaviour.
2019 to 2024: One substantiated complaint about an inappropriate comment was from this time period.
November 2024: Wallace faces allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across a 17-year period on a range of TV shows.
He steps away from presenting MasterChef while Banijay – the show’s production company – announces it will conduct an external review to “fully and impartially investigate” the claims against him.
Some of these allegations included Wallace “talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’, and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans”.
Banijay UK also confirms it has appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged behaviour.
December 2024: Wallace posts a video on Instagram which claims accusations against him making sexual comments towards staff and guests have come from “middle-class women of a certain age”.
His remarks are widely panned as “inappropriate and misogynistic”, causing Wallace to apologise for any “offence” or “upset” he caused with his remarks, saying he will “take some time out”.
Co-host John Torode says he “loves being part of” the show and “will continue to be a part of it”.
July 8 to 9, 2025: Wallace is sacked as MasterChef presenter following an enquiry into his alleged misconduct by Banijay.
In an Instagram post, the former greengrocer claimed he had been cleared of the “most serious and sensational accusations” against him, ahead of the published review.
He also said he recognised that some of his humour and language was inappropriate “at times” and apologised for this.
July 14, 2025: Lewis Silkin publishes its report, on behalf of Banijay.
It says that a total of 45 out of the 83 allegations made against Wallace during his time on the show were substantiated, including one allegation of “unwelcome physical contact”.
It concludes that the “majority of the substantiated allegations against Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour”, adding that “a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated”.
In the wake of the report’s findings, Banijay says that “Wallace’s return to MasterChef (is) untenable”.
July 15, 2025: Co-host Torode is sacked after allegedly making a racist remark while on the show.
BBC bosses axe the TV host and slam an “extremely offensive” term, which was raised in the bombshell report into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour”.
Torode says the comment – which the report attributed to an unnamed person – referred to him, but added: “I have absolutely no recollection of this, and I do not believe that it happened.”
