MasterChef has already begun its casting process for the next series following the axing of Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
The BBC cooking show has been plagued by controversy in recent weeks after an independent review commissioned by production company Banijay upheld 45 of the 83 misconduct allegations against Wallace, 60, leading to his official removal from the cooking reality series.
Torode, 59, exited hot on his heels after admitting he was subject to the racial language accusation featured in the review, although he said he has ‘no recollection’ of the incident. It was claimed that he ‘used the ‘the N-word’ on two separate occasions while working at the BBC.
Last week, Wallace then claimed he was ‘groped’ and faced sexual harassment from a host of women ‘on a regular basis’ while hosting MasterChef.
Now, despite the chaos surrounding the series, MasterChef bosses are ploughing ahead with their search for the latest cooking hopefuls.
Taking to social media to advertise a casting call, production companyBanijay wrote: ‘For over 20 years we have been putting Britain’s best food talents through their paces.
‘Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this.’
The website further added: ‘Whether you’re an amateur cook looking to showcase your home-taught skills or a professional chef wanting to take your career to the next level you can apply for a UK MasterChef series below’.
According to The Sun, Banijay said it made the decision to cast for a new series following ‘consultation with the contestants’.
Who could be the new MasterChef hosts?
It follows rumours that BBC chef Andi Oliver, 62, and Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt, 51, have already been ‘confirmed’ as the presenters for the next series.
This also comes after the BBC confirmed they will release the unaired MasterChef series featuring fired presenters Wallace and Torode.
The amateur version of the hit reality cooking series had already filmed season 21 when Wallace was removed as host following a string of misconduct allegations.
When will the next season of MasterChef be released?
The BBC initially said they were still deliberating whether to air the already-recorded season but now have made the decision to release it at the start of August.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6.
‘MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey.’
The decision to look for new contestants on the show also comes after Wallace made sensational claims that he was ‘groped’ on MasterChef as he hit out at the broadcaster over their ‘complaints procedure’.
He said: ‘The whole complaints procedure needs to be readdressed – there are huge problems with it as things stand. Being on MasterChef was brilliant but I had so many bad experiences on that show too.
‘Had I wanted to raise any complaints, I’d have had the decency to speak to that person directly. Privately, not publicly. My God, can you imagine the complaints I could have made? Have you got any idea of the sexual references made to me on a daily basis?
‘How many times I’ve been touched by women wanting a selfie? How many times I’ve been groped? How many times suggestive comments have been made to me? How many female contestants have said inappropriate things on MasterChef?’
Wallace also claimed that the thought of complaining wouldn’t even ‘cross my mind’, noting that he wasn’t suggesting that groping was ‘right’, but it was ‘happening to me on a regular basis.’
The presenter went on to claim that he was ‘shouted at and bullied’.
Wallace also addressed the accusations against him, including one that he walked around the show’s set naked with a sock on his penis.
He stressed he was not a flasher, as he recounted his version of the incident, which he said happened in the studio after filming had finished.
He told the publication there were no contestants in the studio, adding that it was outside his dressing room door with four friends, including Monica Galetti.
He said: ‘I was getting changed to go to a black-tie event, a charity event. I put my bow tie on and my shirt. It’s only them outside the door.
‘I put the sock on, opened the door, went, “Wahey!” and shut the door again. The people interviewed were either amused or bemused. Nobody was distressed.’
He continued: ‘I’m not a groper. People think I’ve been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher.’
Contestants can apply for MasterChef online at masterchef.tv.
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