Nandy Urges BBC Board to Act After MasterChef Misconduct Fallout

UK Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy has told the BBC Board to "get a grip" after a succession of governance and editorial failings, including the broadcaster’s decision to air the new season of MasterChef even though long-time presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode were dismissed last month for misconduct. An independent report by production company Banijay upheld 45 allegations against Wallace—ranging from inappropriate sexual language to one instance of unwelcome physical contact—and confirmed a separate complaint that Torode used a racist term on set in 2018. Both were fired in July, yet they still appear throughout season 21, which was filmed before their dismissal. Nandy said that, while staffing decisions rest with the BBC, the corporation is “far too important for these repeated problems to occur.” The minister’s intervention follows another breach identified by the BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit, which found that a documentary about Gaza failed accuracy guidelines by not disclosing that its narrator was the son of a Hamas member. Nandy warned that the cumulative issues risk further eroding public confidence and pressed the board to strengthen oversight and editorial standards.