Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has stated she will not watch the latest series of MasterChef on the BBC, following the sacking of presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode over misconduct allegations. However, she stopped short of telling the broadcaster not to air the programme.
The first three episodes of the 21st series were released on iPlayer early Wednesday, ahead of the BBC One broadcast. Nandy told BBC Breakfast: 'It's absolutely not for me, as the culture secretary and a member of the government, to tell broadcasters what they can and can't broadcast.' As a viewer, she said she would not watch it.
Wallace and Torode were dismissed last month after a report upheld allegations against them, including inappropriate sexual language and a racial slur. Contestant Sarah Shafi was reportedly edited out of the series after objecting to its broadcast due to the allegations.
Nandy also reiterated her call for the BBC to 'get a grip' following controversies over a Glastonbury performance and a Gaza documentary. She described these as 'catastrophic failures' but said it was not her role to determine the fate of Director General Tim Davie.
