Former MasterChef star Melanie Sykes has made a telling claim about her time on the show and how John Torode interacted with his former co-star Gregg Wallace.
Wallace, 60, announced last week that he is stepping down from the show after multiple allegations were made against him, including claims he made inappropriate sexual comments to at least 13 people over 17 years and on numerous television sets. MasterChef production company Banijay UK have confirmed Wallace is "committed to fully cooperating throughout the process".
As the star waits for an external investigation, he has denied all allegations in a social media video he shared on Sunday. He told his followers: "I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity Masterchef. This isn't right."
He later apologised for his "middle-aged women" comments, insisting he was sorry for "any offence" he caused and telling fans he felt "under siege" and "alone." He added: "It's obvious to me I need to take some time out now while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand, and I do hope you will accept this apology."
But while Wallace continues his battle to clear his name, many people who have previously worked with the star, including Sykes, 54, have come forward with claims about the TV host. In her autobiography, Illuminated, the former presenter said her time on the cooking show was an "eye-opener" and allowed her to see some "unprofessional behaviour".
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BBC/Shine TV)Sykes did not go into further details about her experience on the show but wrote that when she went to leave the show set, she was unable to find Torode.
"I did try to find John to say goodbye; he had obviously wanted to get out of there as much as I did, as he had already left", Sykes wrote in her book. She added that she complained informally about Wallace's behaviour, but decided not to lodge a formal complaint as she didn't want to deal with the legalities of it.
"I complained afterwards. I said I didn't want to make a formal complaint because, honestly, I'd spend my whole time in litigation if I did that, and I think that's one of the reasons why people don't go for it," she said.
Sykes' comments about Torode and Wallace's lack of interaction reiterate those of Aggie Mackenzie, who starred on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 and told Times Radio last week that Torode was "very different" from his co-host. "They behave very differently. And I observed that when the cameras were off, they would go to separate ends of the room. They didn't really communicate or have a connection off-screen." She said.
Torode has yet to speak out following Wallace's departure from the show or the claims made against him and it has reportedly left a sour taste in the broadcaster's mouth. He has gone on to unfollow his former co-star and his wife, Lisa Faulkner, on Instagram. Speaking to The Sun, a source said, "Gregg is absolutely furious and is convinced he has done nothing wrong."
"Seeing John keeping quiet amid all of this has irked him hugely. Gregg and John have been colleagues for almost two decades and while they aren't the closest of friends, Gregg feels John could say something." The source added: "He has deleted them from his Instagram account now and unfollowed both of them."
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