John Torode has opened up about his emotional departure from MasterChef, revealing that being sacked from the BBC cooking show left him “devastated” and that his wife Lisa Faulkner’s cancer diagnosis changed his perspective on life.
The celebrity chef and former MasterChef presenter spoke candidly about the professional upheaval and personal challenges he and Faulkner have faced over the past year.
Torode, 61, spent around two decades presenting MasterChef before his departure from the BBC programme. He has now reflected on the end of that chapter, his future career and the importance of family.
John Torode Recalls MasterChef Dismissal
Torode said he learned about the BBC’s decision while he was on holiday after receiving a call from his agent.
Speaking to The Telegraph, he described the news as a shock and said the experience left him deeply upset.
The chef explained that he had invested years of work into MasterChef and had given the programme a significant part of his professional life.
Torode also described the BBC in stark terms, saying he felt the organisation had effectively moved on from him after his long association with the show.
Despite the difficult experience, Torode said he does not intend to pursue further legal action over his departure.
He explained that becoming involved in another conflict would cause further damage and that recovering from what happened would take time.
Why Did John Torode Leave MasterChef?
Torode’s departure followed an investigation into allegations surrounding former MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace.
An allegation that Torode had used highly offensive racist language was upheld as part of the review, according to the Standard’s report. The BBC subsequently confirmed that his contract would not continue.
Torode has previously said he had no recollection of the incident in question and expressed his shock and sadness over the allegation.
The controversy brought an unexpected end to his long-running role on one of Britain’s best-known cooking programmes.
John Torode Says He Has Moved Forward
Almost a year after his departure, Torode says he is now focusing on what comes next.
The chef has suggested that leaving MasterChef has allowed him to reconnect with cooking away from the pressures of television.
He has also continued working on projects with Lisa Faulkner, including their John and Lisa’s Kitchen and Home YouTube channel and their food-related ventures.
Rather than allowing his television career to define his future, Torode is exploring new ways to share his passion for food with audiences.
Lisa Faulkner’s Health Battle Changed Their Perspective
Alongside Torode’s professional difficulties, the couple have faced a deeply personal challenge.
Lisa Faulkner was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026 and underwent surgery. She has spoken publicly about her experience and said she chose to share her story partly to encourage others to seek medical advice and attend screening appointments.
According to recent reporting, surgeons removed the cancer with clear margins, and Faulkner has described herself as grateful to be recovering.
For Torode, his wife’s diagnosis put the difficulties surrounding MasterChef into a different perspective.
He said that health and being with his wife are now more important to him than anything else.
John Torode and Lisa Faulkner Focus on Family
Torode and Faulkner have built a strong professional partnership alongside their marriage.
The pair first met when Faulkner appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, a series she went on to win. They later married and became regular television collaborators.
Their relationship has also become central to their food projects, with the couple sharing recipes, cooking ideas and glimpses into their home life with viewers.
The recent challenges have reinforced that partnership.
Faulkner has described spending time at home with family and friends during her recovery, while Torode has supported her by cooking meals and helping create a calmer environment.
From MasterChef to John and Lisa’s Kitchen
Although MasterChef remains a major part of Torode’s television legacy, his current projects are taking him in a different direction.
The couple’s online content gives them greater control over what they create and how they present themselves to audiences.
Their John and Lisa’s Kitchen and Home channel combines cooking with lifestyle content, allowing viewers to see a more personal side of the pair.
Torode has also spoken about regaining confidence in his cooking after leaving the BBC programme.
John Torode Reflects on His Career
Torode arrived in Britain from Melbourne and developed a career spanning restaurants, cookbooks and television.
He eventually became one of the most recognisable faces in British food television through MasterChef, where he worked alongside Gregg Wallace for many years.
Away from the BBC series, he has presented numerous food and travel programmes and built a reputation as a chef and restaurateur.
His next chapter is therefore not simply about replacing MasterChef. Instead, Torode is concentrating on his cooking, family and projects with Faulkner.
A New Chapter for John Torode and Lisa Faulkner
The past year has brought major changes for both Torode and Faulkner.
Torode lost his long-running MasterChef role, while Faulkner faced a breast cancer diagnosis and surgery.
Yet their latest interviews show the couple looking towards their future together.
Torode has said that difficult periods take time to process, but he wants to focus on the positive things still ahead.
For the former MasterChef star, that means cooking, creating new projects and spending time with the people closest to him.
John Torode’s Life After MasterChef
John Torode’s MasterChef era may have ended, but his career in food and television continues.
His latest comments provide a candid insight into how dramatically his priorities have changed since leaving the BBC programme.
With Lisa Faulkner recovering following surgery and the couple continuing their food and lifestyle projects, Torode is now looking beyond the controversy surrounding his former television home.
For the chef, the next chapter appears to be centred less on one television programme and more on family, cooking, creativity and moving forward.
The source of this news is The Standard.