BBC MasterChef has opened applications for its next series after sacking long-time presenters, Gregg Wallace and John Torode, earlier this month for inappropriate conduct and racism.
The cooking show was shrouded in controversy after Wallace, 60, was sacked after 45 complaints of inappropriate conduct were upheld against him.
Australian-born chef Torode, 60, was close behind and let go just a day later for a historic use of the “N-Word” on a work night out.
The BBC decided that despite the tidal wave of negative attention the show received, they would still air the latest series with the disgraced hosting duo at the helm.
The show has now announced it has opened casting for contestants hoping to appear in its newest season, which will feature two new famous culinary judges, the first new judges in over 20 years.
Banijay, the production company responsible for sacking the two presenters, wrote: “For over 20 years we have been putting Britain’s best food talents through their paces.
“Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this.
“Whether you’re an amateur cook looking to showcase your home-taught skills or a professional chef wanting to take your career to the next level, you can apply for a UK MasterChef series below.”
A source told The Sun that Banijay’s decision to cast for a new series came “after consultation with the contestants.”
It comes after disgraced green-grocer Wallace did an explosive interview with The Sun, claiming he was groped on a “regular basis” by women wanting selfies, and hit out at the broadcaster over their complaints procedure.
“The whole complaints procedure needs to be readdressed,” he told The Sun. “There are huge problems with it as things stand. Being on MasterChef was brilliant, but I had so many bad experiences on that show too.
“Had I wanted to raise any complaints, I’d have had the decency to speak to that person directly. Privately, not publicly. My God, can you imagine the complaints I could have made? Have you got any idea of the sexual references made to me on a daily basis?
“How many times I’ve been touched by women wanting a selfie? How many times I’ve been groped? How many times suggestive comments have been made to me? How many female contestants have said inappropriate things on MasterChef?”
Gregg added that complaining about the alleged touching wouldn’t have “crossed his mind”, noting that it “wasn’t right”, but claimed it was happening to him on a “regular basis”.
The chef protested that he had been lumped into the same category as sex offenders Jimmy Saville and Huw Edwards, and his biggest regret was “ever setting foot in a television studio.”
“It wasn’t worth it”, he said. “If I’d have known what was coming up, if I’d have known that what I was doing that made everybody laugh, and was giving me all that success that I was being rewarded for.
“If I’d have known what that was going to unleash these demons upon me in later life, no way would I have gone anywhere near.
“My biggest regret is that I ever went anywhere near a television studio.”
A source told the MailOnline that Torode and Wallace’s screen time in the latest series will be kept to a minimum so the show’s focus can be kept on the contestants.
“The BBC have made it clear that it should limit the amount of airtime the presenters have in the editing of the new series, with a bigger focus on the contestants who are at the heart of the competition,” the source said.
“Neither Gregg nor John will appear in BBC iPlayer thumbnails, and they will not be doing any promotional activity around the latest series.
“All of the brilliant new contestants were consulted on whether the series should be broadcast, and no one objected. Everyone involved is very keen to promote the hard work of the contestants and that will be our priority.”
The BBC has not confirmed who will replace the former hosts, but rumours are circulating that Grace Dent, Marcus Wareing, and MasterChef Professionals judge Monica Galetti could be in the running.
GB News has approached the BBC for comment.