BBC under pressure to shelve latest MasterChef series as backlash grows

The mounting pressure to pull this year's series of MasterChef from the BBC comes after Bectu, the broadcast union, said bad behaviour "should not be rewarded with prime time coverage".

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said on BBC News: "Whilst the BBC claims that it has consulted with contestants there appears to have been no consultation with complainants; freelancers who have taken the very difficult step of speaking out and who will legitimately feel distressed as the show appears on their screens several times a week over the next two months."

Meanwhile, a women's rights charity claimed many viewers would "feel deeply uncomfortable" watching the programme on screens. Their comments were made after a contestant, called Sarah Shafi, said she was edited out of the series and asked for it not to be aired following the allegations made against Gregg Wallace and John Torode.

BBC bosses said earlier this summer that running the series had not been "an easy decision" but insisted there was widespread support among chefs for its airing.

The uproar surrounding the show began last November when BBC News revealed claims of misconduct against Wallace.

After a lengthy investigation, the show's production company, Banijay, released a report last month that confirmed 45 complaints against Wallace had been upheld.

Wallace issued a statement saying he was "deeply sorry for any distress" caused and said he "never set out to harm or humiliate".

Torode's shock sacking came just days later after it emerged he had used a severely offensive racist term.

But calls to cancel the show are continuing to mount, with a former MasterChef worker who claimed Wallace pulled his trousers down in front of her, telling BBC News the move to air the show is "profoundly disrespectful" to those who had made allegations.

She added: "It ultimately sends a message that such behaviour can be overlooked."

A BBC spokesperson said: "This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances, and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. Showing the series, which was filmed last year, in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC.

"However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process."

Express.co.uk has contacted the BBC for further comment.