MasterChef Faces Viewer Drop as Gregg Wallace and John Torode Exit

The popular cooking competition MasterChef experienced a significant decline in viewership, losing nearly 1 million viewers during its latest series premiere on March 13, 2024. This season marks the final appearances of hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode, who were recently dismissed following allegations of misconduct.

The show’s return on BBC One attracted just under 2 million viewers, a steep decrease from the 2.7 million viewers who tuned in for the premiere of the previous season. The changes come in the wake of serious allegations against Torode, whose contract was not renewed by Banijay UK after claims of racist language. Wallace faced similar scrutiny, with an investigation upholding 41 out of 83 complaints against his conduct, leading to his exit from the programme.

Changes to the Show Following Scandal

Despite the controversy, the 21st series of MasterChef aired as planned, having been filmed prior to the dismissal of the two hosts. Viewers noted that significant edits were made to the episodes to reflect the ongoing situation. While both presenters were featured in the opening shots, their overall screen time was substantially reduced compared to previous seasons.

In a move to distance the show from its former hosts, BBC executives have begun removing promotional material featuring Wallace and Torode. Their absence is also notable in episode descriptions for the three available episodes of the new series. Viewer feedback on social media platforms has been overwhelmingly negative, with many expressing disappointment over the show’s handling of the situation.

“I shall tune in to this for 10 or 15 minutes just to see how it has been re-cut to remove its presenters,” one viewer commented on X. “Well I’ve switched it off. The @BBC has made no attempt to remove them from the show.”

Future Prospects for Torode and Wallace

As the backlash continues, public relations expert Kayley Cornelius has weighed in on the future of John Torode’s career. According to Cornelius, Torode has “one chance” to salvage his public image. She suggests that taking accountability for his actions and demonstrating personal growth could help him regain some support from the audience.

“Should he take accountability for his actions, apologise to those he’s upset or disappointed, and demonstrate clear growth since the time of the incident, I do believe, based on current online sentiment, that he has a chance to win back some public support,” Cornelius stated.

The ongoing situation with MasterChef highlights the challenges faced by television programmes in the wake of misconduct allegations. As the series progresses, it remains to be seen how the show will adapt to audience expectations and how the former hosts will navigate their careers post-MasterChef.