John Torode, a well-known face on the BBC's long-running cooking competition show MasterChef, has criticized the broadcaster after being removed from the show. He had been a presenter on the program for 20 years alongside Gregg Wallace. Torode was dismissed last year following an investigation into Wallace, who was also fired over allegations of misconduct. The investigation confirmed that Torode had used "highly offensive racist language," an allegation linked to a 2019 wrap party where he reportedly sang along to the song "Gold Digger" by Kanye West. Torode shared his reaction to the news during an interview with The Telegraph. He said he learned of his dismissal while on holiday, receiving a call from his agent. "It was a shock," he said, expressing deep sadness over the loss of his role. "I put my heart and soul into that thing. I really worked very, very hard." He criticized the BBC for its handling of the situation, describing the organization as "a machine [that] spat me out." He added that during his 20 years with the broadcaster, no one had ever approached him about any issues. Torode has ruled out pursuing legal action over his dismissal, stating that getting involved in further conflict would only cause more harm. He also mentioned he no longer has contact with Gregg Wallace, his former co-presenter. "When we filmed, we filmed and when we didn’t, we weren’t in touch. Why would it change now?" he said. This sentiment aligns with comments he made earlier about his relationship with Wallace while MasterChef was still on air, emphasizing that their professional relationship was limited to work. Since leaving MasterChef, Torode has been running a YouTube channel called John and Lisa’s Kitchen and Home with his wife, Lisa Faulkner, an actress known for her roles in EastEnders and Holby City. Recently, Faulkner revealed she had undergone surgery after being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.