Gregg Wallace and John Torode “were never friends” despite being co-hosts for 20 years, a former MasterChef employee has claimed. Wallace and Torode were sacked as presenters of the cookery show this week after a seven-month investigation upheld allegations made against the pair.

After an inquiry into Wallace's behavior revealed claims against two separate people, Torode said on Monday: "I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion."