John Torode: MasterChef Crisis, Net Worth & Wife

John Torode has been a fixture on British television for two decades, but his role as MasterChef judge has never been under this kind of scrutiny. With co-host Gregg Wallace facing a wave of allegations and the BBC launching an investigation, Torode’s own conduct has also come into question.

Born: 23 July 1965 (age 59) ·
Nationality: Australian, British ·
Occupation: Chef, TV presenter ·
Known for: MasterChef judge (since 2005) ·
Spouse: Lisa Faulkner (m. 2019) ·
Net Worth: £2–4 million (estimated)

The following table summarizes John Torode’s personal and professional details.

What is John Torode doing now?

Recent MasterChef appearances

• Torode continues as a judge on MasterChef despite the crisis (The Independent (UK news outlet)).
• The BBC ended its relationship with Gregg Wallace on 14 July 2025 after an independent inquiry (Variety (entertainment trade publication)).

New restaurant ventures

• Torode runs a restaurant in London, though no new openings have been announced in 2025 (The Guardian (UK newspaper)).

Cookbook releases

• He has published several cookbooks, but no new titles have appeared since 2023.

Are Lisa and John together?

How they met

• Torode met Lisa Faulkner when she competed on MasterChef in 2009; they began dating years later.

Marriage in 2019

• They married in 2019 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
• Faulkner is a chef and actress, best known for winning Celebrity MasterChef.

Blended family

• Faulkner has a daughter, Billie, from her previous marriage to Chris Coghill.
• Torode has three children from his first marriage. Together they blend a family of four children.

The implication: Torode’s personal life appears unaffected by the on-set crisis, providing him with a stable foundation as his professional reputation faces new questions.

Were Torode and Wallace not friends?

Long-time working relationship

• Torode and Wallace co-hosted MasterChef since 2005 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).

Allegations of tension

• Reports suggest underlying friction, though both denied a major rift (The Independent (UK news outlet)).

Response to crisis

• Torode publicly confirmed he was the subject of a racist language allegation during the Wallace investigation (The Guardian (UK newspaper)).
• The BBC reported that only one complaint against Torode was upheld — involving an offensive racial slur on set in 2018 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)). Nine other complaints about Torode were not upheld.

What is John Torode’s net worth?

Sources of income

• Torode’s net worth is estimated at £2-4 million, drawn from television, restaurants, and cookbook sales (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
• His earnings from MasterChef have been a major component since 2005.

Real estate and investments

• He owns property in London and abroad, though exact details are not publicly reported.

Charitable work

• Torode supports several food-related charities, but no specific donations have been disclosed.

The catch: The estimated net worth remains uncertain, and any damage to Torode’s public standing could reduce his earning potential.

What did Gregg Wallace do to Penny Lancaster?

Allegations of bullying

• Penny Lancaster, a model and photographer, publicly accused Wallace of bullying on the MasterChef set in November 2024 (The Guardian (UK newspaper)).

Penny Lancaster’s statement

“He made the working environment unbearable for many of us.”

— Penny Lancaster, via The Guardian (UK newspaper)

MasterChef investigation

• The BBC and production company Banijay UK launched an inquiry. Ultimately, 45 of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated (Variety (entertainment trade publication)).
• The BBC ended its relationship with Wallace on 14 July 2025, citing risk to safety (Deadline (industry news site)).
• Torode’s own one upheld complaint for racist language was also part of the same investigation (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).

Timeline section

• 2005 — John Torode becomes a judge on the revamped BBC MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace.
• 2019 — Marries actress and chef Lisa Faulkner.
• November 2024 — Penny Lancaster publicly accuses Gregg Wallace of bullying on the MasterChef set.
• December 2024 — BBC announces investigation into alleged misconduct by Gregg Wallace.
• July 2025 — BBC ends relationship with Wallace; Torode confirms he was subject to a racist language allegation; only one upheld complaint against Torode.

Clarity section

“94% of the substantiated Wallace allegations related to incidents from 2005 to 2018.”

— BBC statement via Variety (entertainment trade publication)

“About 50 more people came forward with fresh claims about Wallace in July 2025.”

— ITV News (ITV News (UK commercial broadcaster))

For John Torode, the MasterChef crisis has reshaped his public narrative. He remains on the show, but with a tainted record. For viewers, the choice is whether to separate the chef from the allegations. For the BBC, the clean break with Wallace signals a zero-tolerance stance toward misconduct on set.

For a deeper look into his journey from Melbourne kitchens to the MasterChef set, read John Torodes biography and career.

Frequently asked questions

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