Second MasterChef contestant edited out of new series

John Torode, left, and Gregg Wallace have presented MasterChef since 2005

A second MasterChef contestant has been edited out of this year's scandal-hit series, BBC News can reveal.

A spokesperson for the show's production company, Banijay, said: "One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included. We have of course accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show."

Another contestant, Sarah Shafi, was also removed from the series after asking for it not to be broadcast, following a report which upheld claims against hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.

The BBC decided to still show this year's amateur series, which was filmed before the pair were sacked, saying it was "the right thing to do" for the chefs who took part.

But it faced a backlash from some women who came forward, while the broadcast union Bectu said bad behaviour "should not be rewarded with prime-time coverage".

Former Celebrity MasterChef contestant and BBC journalist Kirsty Wark also suggested the BBC could have refilmed the series without the two co-hosts.

• MasterChef returns with sacked hosts but without their jokes

• Gregg Wallace sacked as 50 more people make claims

• MasterChef crisis: Wallace and Torode were 'never friends'

In the event, both Wallace and Torode remain in the series, which began last week on BBC One and on iPlayer.

But the episodes appear to have been edited to include fewer jokes than usual, with less chat between them and the chefs.

The episode which would have featured the second contestant was broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday night, but only featured five chefs rather than the usual six.

BBC News understands the individual has asked not to be identified and they will not feature in the show.

It's believed Shafi's episode has not yet aired.

The BBC previously said it had not been "an easy decision" to run the series, adding that there was "widespread support" among the chefs for it going ahead.

"In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters," it said.

"However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series."

Upheld complaints

The controversy over MasterChef started last year, when BBC News first revealed claims of misconduct against Wallace.

Last month, a report by the show's production company Banijay revealed that 83 complaints had been made against Wallace with more than 40 upheld, including one of unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress.

He has insisted he was cleared of "the most serious and sensational allegations".

In a recent interview with The Sun, he said he was "so sorry" to anyone he hurt, but insisted that he was "not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher".

The upheld complaint against Torode related to a severely offensive racist term allegedly used on the set of MasterChef in 2018.

The presenter said he had "no recollection" of it and that any racist language is "wholly unacceptable".

Wallace will be replaced by Irish chef Anna Haugh in the final episodes of the new series, as that is when the allegations against him first emerged during filming in November.