John Torode, the former host of the cooking competition series MasterChef, has expressed deep disappointment following his dismissal by the BBC. The Melbourne-born chef, who presented the show for two decades alongside Gregg Wallace, was informed last year of his termination after a review upheld allegations that he used “highly offensive racist language.” Wallace was also removed from the program amid separate allegations of misconduct.

Torode, 61, described the news of his removal as a shock, saying he learned of it through a phone call from his agent while on holiday. Speaking about the decision, he said he was “devastated” and emphasized the commitment he had made to the show throughout his tenure, noting that he had put “his heart and soul” into the role and worked very hard.

Reflecting on his time with the BBC, Torode characterized the broadcaster as a “machine” that ultimately discarded him without prior warning. He stated that during his many years with the corporation, he never received any indication that his conduct was a concern, stressing that “nobody ever knocked on my door and said, ‘you can’t do this’ or ‘this is a problem.’”

Despite his dissatisfaction with the outcome, Torode indicated he does not intend to pursue any legal or formal action related to his dismissal. He expressed a desire to avoid further conflict, commenting that becoming involved in additional disputes might cause more harm than good.

The BBC has not publicly commented on Torode’s statements beyond its initial response to the internal review findings that led to the departures of both Torode and Wallace.