Celebrity chef John Torode has revealed he turned to professional therapy to help process feelings of 'grief' following his abrupt dismissal from the BBC's MasterChef earlier this year.
A 'Brutal' Life Change and Emotional Fallout
The 60-year-old television presenter was let go from his role as host of the iconic cooking competition in July 2025, ending a two-decade association with the programme. The BBC's decision came after it upheld a complaint alleging Torode had used an offensive racist term during production.
In a deeply personal entry for his online newsletter, A View From The Fridge, Torode described the aftermath as an 'unexpected and brutal life change'. He wrote candidly about the emotional turbulence, stating there have been 'lots of ups and downs'.
Therapy, Fear, and Finding a Voice
Torode explained that therapy has been instrumental in his journey, allowing him to move beyond simply 'being brave' to being authentically 'real'. He reflected on the powerful, and potentially damaging, intersection of grief and fear.
'Fear is the instinct that keeps us alive,' he penned, 'but should grief and fear meet each other I wonder how much damage it can do when we decide to shut it away, shut it down, and not let it flow as it should.'
He admitted that establishing a routine to write his weekly newsletter has been challenging amidst a 'tumultuous physical, illogical and physiological state of mind'. However, he noted a positive shift: 'What is becoming easier is being able to talk and to vocalise how I feel as I come to terms with the past five months and the impact it has had.'
Facing Grief Alone and a Path Forward
The Australian chef, whose co-host Gregg Wallace was also removed from MasterChef this year over separate misconduct allegations, emphasised the permanent impact of the events. 'Life has changed for ever for me and for those close to me. There is no sympathy searching here, just honesty,' he stated.
A recent work trip to Qatar marked a significant moment, as it was the first time he confronted his dismissal without the support of his wife, actress Lisa Faulkner. Torode described the experience as cathartic yet tough.
'Being away from Lisa has meant facing my grief alone,' he shared. 'This week I can proudly say that I have allowed the true hurt and sadness to flow through me without resistance.' He concluded that sitting with his true feelings, rather than exiling them, had been a 'revelation'.
