BBC MasterChef launches casting for next series after Wallace and Torode axing

MasterChef has officially opened applications for its next series of the beloved BBC culinary show. It comes after the production company Banijay axed co-hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode earlier this month for inappropriate conduct and racism.

The cooking program was shrouded in controversy after Wallace, 60, was axed after 45 of the 83 complaints for inappropriate conduct were upheld against him. The Australian-born chef Torode, 60, followed in his footsteps and was let go one week later after allegedly using racist language in the workplace. The BBC decided that, despite the controversy which has surrounded the show over the past 12 months, they will air the latest series with the disgraced hosting duo at the helm.

Now, the show has announced it has opened a casting call for contestants hoping to appear in the newest series, which will feature two new famous culinary judges, the first new judges on the show in over 20 years.

Banijay, the production company who axed the two presenters, announced in a statement: "For over 20 years, we have been putting Britain's best food talents through their paces. Cooking doesn't get tougher than this.

"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."

A source told The Sun that Banijay's decision to cast for a new series came "after consultation with the contestants". Meanwhile, another source told the MailOnline that Torode and Wallace's screentime in the latest series will be kept to a minimum so the show's focus remains on the contestants.

The source told the publication: "The BBC have made it clear that it should limit the amount of airtime the presenters have in the editing of the new series, with a bigger focus on the contestants who are at the heart of the competition.

"Neither Gregg nor John will appear in BBC iPlayer thumbnails, and they will not be doing any promotional activity around the latest series. All of the brilliant new contestants were consulted on whether the series should be broadcast, and no one objected. Everyone involved is very keen to promote the hard work of the contestants that will be our priority."

The BBC has not confirmed who will replace the former hosts, but the names circulating around the rumour mill include Grace Dent, Marcus Wareing, and MasterChef Professionals judge Monica Galetti. Express.co.uk has reached out to the BBC for a comment.

It comes after disgraced green-grocer Wallace did an explosive interview with The Sun where he claimed he was groped on a "regular basis" by women wanting selfies and hit out at the broadcaster over their complaint's procedure.

He told the outlet: "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?"

Gregg added that complaining about the alleged touching wouldn't have even "crossed his mind", noting that it "wasn't right", but claimed it was happening to him on a "regular basis".