Cat Deeley offers support to Lisa Faulkner following husband John Torode’s BBC MasterChef axe
This Morning presenter Cat Deeley has publicly thrown her support behind former MasterChef star John Torode’s wife, Lisa Faulkner, following his axe from the BBC show.
It comes weeks after the BBC and production company Banijay UK announced that the Australian-born presenter’s contract would not be extended following a probe initially investigating Torode’s co-host Gregg Wallace.
Among some of the upheld accusations of inappropriate behaviour from Wallace, an allegation of racism from Torode was also confirmed by Banijay, leading to both presenters losing their jobs on the cooking show.
It is understood the 60-year-old allegedly repeated lyrics to a Kanye West containing a racial slur during drinks with colleagues six or seven years ago.
Torode’s actress and cook wife Lisa Faulkner, 53, broke her silence on Monday by thanking social media followers for their supportive messages.
On Tuesday, Faulkner followed up the Instagram Story with a post on her feed. The snap shows her cuddling up to a happy-looking Miniature Schnauzer and smiling at the camera.
Seemingly continuing to address recent events, she wrote in the caption: “Our little shadow over the past few weeks. I can’t tell you how much Rory has kept me smiling.
“Every day she wakes up wagging her tail, smiling and greeting a new day with her positivity! My motto really is Be More Rory.”
Among the throngs of comments from fans beneath the post, one supportive message came from ITV star Deeley.
She penned: “Sending big love,” along with two heart emojis.
The This Morning star wasn’t the only famous face to reach out, with Amanda Holden, who has previously offered support of Torode, also commenting.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge commented: “Sending you both loads of love.”
It follows a divided response to Torode’s axe from MasterChef, with many questioning the decision.
Torode, along with Wallace, had presented the BBC cookery programme since 2005.
Banijay UK stated that the legal team “substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018.”
The production company confirmed they had formally addressed the matter with Torode.
The BBC declared it would not accept racist language under any circumstances.
A spokesperson emphasised that the allegation concerned “an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace.”
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Torode went on to release a statement claiming he had “no recollection of the incident” and expressing shock at the allegation.
He maintained that whilst he disputed the finding, he agreed that racial language was completely unacceptable in any setting.