The BBC has disclosed that an additional MasterChef participant has been removed from the current amateur series, bringing the total number of withdrawn contestants to two.
The revelation comes as the programme continues to air despite controversy surrounding former presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Production company Banijay confirmed the unnamed individual requested exclusion from the broadcast after recent developments.
“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,” a company representative stated.
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The withdrawal follows that of Sarah Shafi, who had demanded the entire series be cancelled after an investigation substantiated misconduct allegations against both former hosts.
Wednesday’s broadcast featured only five participants instead of the standard six, with the second contestant’s identity remaining protected at their request. The individual will not appear in any future episodes.
Sarah Shafi, a 57-year-old leadership development specialist from Leeds, had previously demanded complete cancellation of the programme. “I didn’t say edit me out,” Shafi stated.
“I said, ‘Axe the show, don’t air the show. I’m asking you not to air the show.’ Prominent figures have been abusing their power. What message does that send out to women?”
The St John Ambulance management development partner had entered the competition to honour her deceased mother, who taught Indian cookery. Shafi’s episode has yet to be broadcast.
Shafi expressed frustration at producers’ suggestion to simply remove her from the programme. “I was flabbergasted, because in what way was that a solution and a solution for whom?” she explained.
“My point was not about me not being associated with it. My point was about the institutional enabling environment.”
Her concerns extended beyond individual behaviour to systemic issues within television production. “For me, it’s about the enabling environment. It’s that complicity.
” Those individual powerful men do not [act] in isolation. There is an enabling environment, turning a blind eye… It’s about years of these institutions not being accountable,” she stated.
The leadership specialist questioned the broadcaster’s priorities, asking: “While the BBC are signalling how life-changing, for the better, this could be for some contestants I’d say top 10 at most where is the respect for how life changing, for the worse, it has been for the victims?”
An independent investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin uncovered 45 substantiated complaints against Wallace, including inappropriate sexual comments and one incident of unwanted physical contact.
Wallace has apologised for causing distress whilst disputing the most serious accusations.
Torode faced nine allegations, with investigators confirming he used an extremely offensive racial slur towards a staff member in 2018. The chef claimed no memory of the incident and called such language “wholly unacceptable”.
The BBC defended its decision to broadcast the edited series, stating it believed showing the programme was appropriate for the participating chefs.
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The corporation acknowledged the choice was difficult and that not all would support it.
Both presenters were dismissed following the investigation’s findings, with episodes now featuring reduced interaction between hosts and contestants.