A new favourite to become the next MasterChef host has been revealed after the BBC sacked a 'heartbroken' John Torode.
The Australian chef, 59, was axed from the cooking competition in an announcement from the broadcaster on Tuesday afternoon.
It came after a report into a series of allegations of inappropriate behaviour by his co-star Gregg Wallace, 60, which saw him sacked as a presenter this month.
The investigation also found John had once used an 'extremely offensive racist term', allegedly during some drinks after filming.
John posted to Instagram on Tuesday evening to say he had 'no recollection' of the incident and did not believe it had happened.
But in the wake of both the co-hosts' disgrace, Gogglebox star and Great British Menu presenter Andi Oliver, 62, has emerged as the favourite to replace them.
Bookies at What Are The Odds have said her chances stand at 5/2, or 28.6 per cent, boosted by her 'warmth and culinary credibility'.
The chef is also helped, they said, by her 'vibrant energy and authority' on Great British Menu, which she has variously judged and presented since 2016.
She would make history as the first black woman to present MasterChef if she were to be given the top job.
But Andi, who is a regular on Celebrity Gogglebox with her daughter, presenter Miquita Oliver, 41, is not alone as one of the bookmakers' top choices.
Close behind her is celebrity chef Tom Kerridge, 51, who has been rated at 3/1, or 25 per cent, for his 'accessible cooking style', 'likeable media persona' and 'devoted following'.
'With multiple restaurants, several BBC series, and a reputation for combining fine dining with everyday appeal, Kerridge is seen as a strong fit for MasterChef's evolving audience', the bookies added.
What Are The Odds analyst Dave James said: 'Andi Oliver remains the market leader but Tom Kerridge is attracting a lot of support.
'His profile is huge and he's one of the most trusted names in British food. This could come down to what direction the BBC wants - prestige, relatability, or a bit of both.'
But Andi, who is a regular on Celebrity Gogglebox with her daughter presenter Miquita Oliver, 41, is not alone as one of the bookmakers' top choices.
Close behind her is celebrity chef Tom Kerridge, 51, who has been rated at 3/1 or 25% for his ‘accessible cooking style’, ‘likeable media persona’ and ‘devoted following’.
‘With multiple restaurants, several BBC series, and a reputation for combining fine dining with everyday appeal, Kerridge is seen as a strong fit for MasterChef’s evolving audience,’ the bookies added.
What Are The Odds analyst Dave James said: ‘Andi Oliver remains the market leader but Tom Kerridge is attracting a lot of support.
‘His profile is huge and he’s one of the most trusted names in British food. This could come down to what direction the BBC wants - prestige, relatability, or a bit of both.’
Other names which could make the cut include Poppy O'Toole, 29, a Michelin-trained chef who has skyrocketed to fame on social media as the 'Potato Queen'.
At 4/1 or 20 per cent, she is followed by chef Angela Hartnett, 56, at 5/1 (16.7 per cent) and Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, 40, on 6/1 or 14.3 per cent.
Stars rated below them range from TV chefs James Martin, Nigella Lawson and Marcus Wareing, to food critic Grace Dent.
Even John's wife and fellow TV chef Lisa Faulkner, 53, still makes the top ten, at 14/1 or 6.7 per cent, despite his recent sacking.
It comes after John was left 'heartbroken' by discovering he had been dropped from MasterChef online.
A source told The Sun: 'He read about it on the BBC News website.
'Obviously he's heartbroken. He feels he's been made a scapegoat off the back of the Gregg Wallace report.'
Just after the news broke, the chef released a statement confirming he had not 'heard from anyone at the BBC' or the show's production company Banijay UK.
His agent was reportedly called just 11 minutes before the BBC's announcement - and so 'hadn't a chance to call him' before word got out.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the BBC said that it does not 'tolerate racist language of any kind' and that it takes the finding 'extremely seriously'.
The move came after BBC director-general Tim Davie notably failed to back Torode and said he 'expects action to be taken' following the racism allegations.
He delivered the remarks as the BBC released its annual report - an occasion overshadowed by controversies for the second year in a row.
A witness of the moment at issue in John's sacking claimed he apologised instantly for using the term as he 'was mortified' and he 'didn't use the term as a slur'.
No one complained at the time but the incident was brought up during Gregg's inquiry, they added.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him.
'This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.
A source said: 'Obviously he's heartbroken. He feels he's been made a scapegoat off the back of the Gregg Wallace report'.
Just after the news broke, the chef released a statement confirming he had not 'heard from anyone at the BBC' or the show's production company Banijay UK.
His agent was reportedly called just 11 minutes before the BBC's announcement - and so 'hadn't a chance to call him' before word got out.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the BBC said that it does not 'tolerate racist language of any kind' and that it takes the finding 'extremely seriously'.
The move came after BBC director-general Tim Davie notably failed to back Torode and said he 'expects action to be taken' following the racism allegations.
He delivered the remarks as the BBC released its annual report - an occasion overshadowed by controversies for the second year in a row.
A witness of the moment at issue in John's sacking claimed he apologised instantly for using the term as he 'was mortified' and he 'didn't use the term as a slur'.
No one complained at the time but the incident was brought up during Gregg's inquiry, they added.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him.'
'This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.
A source said: 'Obviously he's heartbroken. He feels he's been made a scapegoat off the back of the Gregg Wallace report'.
Just after the news broke, the chef released a statement confirming he had not 'heard from anyone at the BBC' or the show's production company Banijay UK.
His agent was reportedly called just 11 minutes before the BBC's announcement - and so 'hadn't a chance to call him' before word got out.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the BBC said that it does not 'tolerate racist language of any kind' and that it takes the finding 'extremely seriously'.
The move came after BBC director-general Tim Davie notably failed to back Torode and said he 'expects action to be taken' following the racism allegations.
He delivered the remarks as the BBC released its annual report - an occasion overshadowed by controversies for the second year in a row.
A witness of the moment at issue in John's sacking claimed he apologised instantly for using the term as he 'was mortified' and he 'didn't use the term as a slur'.
No one complained at the time but the incident was brought up during Gregg's inquiry, they added.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him.'
'This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.
A source said: 'Obviously he's heartbroken. He feels he's been made a scapegoat off the back of the Gregg Wallace report'.
Just after the news broke, the chef released a statement confirming he had not 'heard from anyone at the BBC' or the show's production company Banijay UK.
His agent was reportedly called just 11 minutes before the BBC's announcement - and so 'hadn't a chance to call him' before word got out.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the BBC said that it does not 'tolerate racist language of any kind' and that it takes the finding 'extremely seriously'.
The move came after BBC director-general Tim Davie notably failed to back Torode and said he 'expects action to be taken' following the racism allegations.
He delivered the remarks as the BBC released its annual report - an occasion overshadowed by controversies for the second year in a row.
A witness of the moment at issue in John's sacking claimed he apologised instantly for using the term as he 'was mortified' and he 'didn't use the term as a slur'.
No one complained at the time but the incident was brought up during Gregg's inquiry, they added.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him.'
'This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.
A source said: 'Obviously he's heartbroken. He feels he's been made a scapegoat off the back of the Gregg Wallace report'.
Just after the news broke, the chef released a statement confirming he had not 'heard from anyone at the BBC' or the show's production company Banijay UK.
Other names which could make cut include Poppy O'Toole
- At 4/1 or 20 per cent, she is followed by chef Angela Hartnett, 56, at 5/1 (16.7 per cent) and Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, 40, on 6/1 or 14.3 per cent.
- Stars rated below them range from TV chefs James Martin, Nigella Lawson and Marcus Wareing, to food critic Grace Dent.
- Even John's wife and fellow TV chef Lisa Faulkner, 53, still makes the top ten, at 14/1 or 6.7 per cent, despite his recent sacking.
It comes after John was left 'heartbroken' by discovering he had been dropped from MasterChef online.
A source told The Sun: 'He read about it on the BBC News website.'
'Obviously he's heartbroken. He feels he's been made a scapegoat off the back of the Gregg Wallace report.'