BBC MasterChef's John Torode's four-word remark about Gregg Wallace

John Torode has openly stated that he and his MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace are "never been friends". Despite co-presenting the highly successful BBC1 show with the ex-greengrocer since 2005, Torode makes a point of steering clear of his colleague off-camera.

Even when the pair, considered one of television's most famous duos, travel to distant and exotic locations for filming, they opt to maintain their distance, as reported by the Sunday Mirror in 2017 while MasterChef was gearing up for its 13th season post-revival. It comes amid the news Wallace, aged 60, is stepping back from hosting MasterChef temporarily during an investigation into past allegations of misconduct dating back to 2005.

Allegations include an incident where Wallace allegedly entered the studio naked, save for a sock covering his privates. When Torode spoke to the Mirror in 2017, the chef, now 59 and originally from Melbourne, Australia, said: "We've never been friends."

At the time, he described Wallace as "so OCD", elaborating: "It's funny, we've never been friends. We've not been to each other's houses... He's so OCD, he wouldn't know what to do. He'd build it up in his mind for three days, and probably make himself quite sick, then he'd have an argument with his wife and not turn up. If I went to his house, he would feel like he wasn't in control."

John Torode has no commented on the investigation into co-star Gregg Wallace's alleged misconduct. Instead, the celebrity chef took to Instagram to share a photo from outside his local David Lloyd leisure club in North London, reports the Mirror.

Meanwhile, 13 individuals, among them former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, have approached the BBC with complaints regarding historical allegations. Wark, who participated in the Celebrity MasterChef spin-off during its sixth series in 2011, accused Wallace of recounting stories and jokes of a "sexualised nature" in front of contestants and crew.

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."

Wallace's lawyers say it is "entirely false" that he engages in sexually harassing behaviour. Banijay UK, which produces the show for the BBC, confirmed Wallace will be "stepping away" from the programme.