John Torode’s cooking show he hosts with his wife is set to be ‘axed’ as a source claims he is ‘prepared for the worst’ as the commissioning team are yet to make a final decision

John Torode’s cooking show, which he hosts with his wife Lisa, is reportedly going to be axed in the new year. The news comes just 5 months after he was sacked by the BBC over comments he made on MasterChef.

A source has claimed that John is ‘prepared for the worst’ as the commissioning team are yet to make a final decision on the show John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, which he hosts with wife Lisa Faulkner.

A source claimed that John, 60, who denied making racist comments, is ‘facing a nervous wait’. They said: “John is facing a nervous wait about Weekend Kitchen but it’s not looking good. The commissioning team have still not made a decision. Budgets are being slashed and the show is expensive to make”, The Sun reports.

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The source added: “It will be a major blow to John. He had a really tough time after being sacked from the BBC. He is pushing forward with Lisa and is working hard on a new YouTube cooking show which has been well-received. Naturally, he’s hoping his ITV show will get a redeeming nod but he’s prepared for the worst.”

John And Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen started in 2019 and the final episode of the tenth series will air on Saturday.

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The news that John’s contract with MasterChef would not be renewed emerged earlier this summer, after an allegation of him using “an extremely offensive racist term” was upheld, as per the BBC. John claimed he has “no recollection” of it in an Instagram post he shared in July.

The BBC said in a statement: “John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language.

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“This allegation — which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace — was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by law firm Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.”

Reacting to his departure, John clarified at the time: “Although I haven’t heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay, I am seeing and reading that I’ve been ‘sacked’ from MasterChef. I reiterate that I have no memory of what I’m accused of. The enquiry couldn’t even specify the date or year of when I am alleged to have said something inappropriate.”

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“Personally, I have relished every moment working on MasterChef, but it’s time to hand over the utensils to someone else.”

It comes as John and Lisa have announced the launch of their very own YouTube channel straight from their home kitchen. In an introduction filmed at their residence, John – who can currently be seen in his final-ever series of Celebrity MasterChef – welcomed viewers: “Welcome to our new YouTube channel, and to our home kitchen.”

He teased a diverse menu, promising “celebratory food, food from all round the world, whether it be spaghetti with a tomato sauce, Korean fried chicken and a sticky sauce to go with it, all the way through to scones and jam and cream.”