MasterChef presenter John Torode insisted he 'loves being part of' the programme and 'will continue to be a part of it' after Gregg Wallace stepped back from the show amid inappropriate behaviour claims - but notably failed to speak up in support of his embattled co-host.
Torode said in a statement on Instagram that he found the recent reports 'truly upsetting' and the 'thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear'.
His words came after Wallace was said to be 'furious' with his former co-star for not publicly supporting him and unfollowed him and his wife Lisa Faulkner on Instagram.
Torode, who has presented the BBC One cooking show alongside Wallace for the last 19 years, said: 'Since last Friday, I have been away filming MasterChef overseas. I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it.
'During the last few days, I've been trying to make the best cookery programme, so being busy making the show and caring for our contestants has allowed me little time to think about anything else, but that has been hard.'
The pair had worked together since 2005, but had endured a tumultuous friendship behind the scenes of the show, despite appearing to have strong chemistry in front of the camera.
Though John was Gregg's best man for his fourth wedding to Anne Marie in 2016, the duo have in the past admitted they had a spat so awful that filming for MasterChef had to be called off, while John has said they've 'never really' been friends.
And their relationship will surely have been made even more difficult after John's wife Lisa Faulkner claimed Gregg made 'rude joke after rude joke' while MasterChef was being filmed.
BBC MasterChef judges John Torode (left) and Gregg Wallace, in a publicity photo issued on November 26 for this year's now-cancelled Masterchef Christmas special
Torode added: 'But as I hope everyone appreciates, there is an investigation underway, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage, and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.'
Yesterday, the BBC announced that two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials, a Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza, have been pulled from its festive schedule.
The BBC said: 'As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.
'The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and, in the current circumstances, we have decided not to broadcast them.'
Three episodes of BBC Two's Inside The Factory - co-presented by Wallace - which are repeats, are also being removed from the schedule, but the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals remains on air.
Australian-born Torode became a familiar face to TV audiences in 1996 as the resident chef on ITV's This Morning.
MasterChef launched in 2005 as a revamped version of the original 1990-2001 series, which was hosted by Loyd Grossman.
The revamped 2005 series, which was called MasterChef Goes Large and was won by Thomasina Miers - who co-founded Wahaca chain of Mexican street food restaurants - reverted to its original name in 2008.
The success of the programme led to spin-off shows such as Junior MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.
Last week, Banijay UK, the production company behind the BBC show, announced that Wallace would be 'stepping away from his role on MasterChef' following complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct.
Banijay UK announced an 'immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate' and said that Wallace was 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process'.
Last night, Wallace, 60, faced fresh allegations, with BBC News reporting that one woman said he touched her bottom after an event and another said he pressed his crotch against her while filming on a different show.
His lawyers have previously strongly denied that 'he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature', according to BBC News.
Masterchef judge John Torode cycling in North London in October
BBC News reported that Wallace allegedly pressed his crotch against the bottom of a woman working on the BBC show Eat Well For Less during filming in a supermarket in 2015, and that he allegedly touched the bottom of another woman during a group hug in a lift in 2022.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
'We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.'
The BBC said it would be 'inappropriate' to comment amid the external review by Banijay UK.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said today that women who make reports of inappropriate behaviour must have 'confidence that they will be taken seriously'.
John Torode said in a statement on Instagram that the 'thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear'
Sir Keir Starmer said politicians should be ready to put in place 'mechanisms' that would instil that confidence, after Labour MP Alison Hume asked him about 'women of a certain age', reflecting comments made by Wallace.
He said: 'One of the greatest barriers that women face when coming forward and reporting unacceptable behaviour in the workplace is having confidence that they will be taken seriously.
'And that requires all of us to put in place mechanisms and arrangements to make that possible.
'Everybody should be treated with dignity and respect and I'm proud of the fact that the Employment Rights Bill we are passing will strengthen protections from sexual harassment at work.'
The presenter apologised on Monday for claiming in an Instagram video that complaints about his behaviour came from 'a handful of middle-class women of a certain age', and added he would 'take some time out'.
He faces multiple complaints of inappropriate behaviour, originally from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period, as reported by BBC News last week, which production company Banijay UK has said it is taking 'incredibly seriously' amid an external investigation.
Mr Wallace said in a video posted to Instagram earlier this week: 'I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people.
'I wasn't in a good headspace when I posted it, I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday, when I posted it.
'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.'
The Prime Minister's official spokesperson said on Monday, when asked if the cookery show should be pulled off air, that the decision was for the BBC and the show's production company, and reiterated that Downing Street believes it is 'right' that a thorough investigation is conducted.
Downing Street also said the TV star's response to the accusations being made against him was 'inappropriate and misogynistic', and confirmed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held talks with BBC bosses in the wake of the Wallace row.
