John Torode's wife, Lisa Faulkner, shared details of her husband's close bond with Gregg Wallace just months before allegations about the TV presenters came to light.

For decades, John Torode and Gregg Wallace had formed one of the most iconic duos in British TV, but their time together on-screen was brought to an abrupt end recently after a series of allegations against Wallace were upheld, as well as an allegation of racism against John Torode.

Torode and Wallace took over hosting duties on MasterChef back in 2005, in what was a revived version of the show that had originally aired with a different team of hosts between 1990 and 2001.

Over the years, the show followed the same simple format: inviting a series of contestants to demonstrate their cooking expertise before the number of contestants was slowly whittled down until a winner was picked.

But in an interview with The Times in August last year, John Torode's wife shared details of the co-hosts' close relationship, saying how they had picked up each other’s habits and mannerisms over the years: "I think what John and Gregg [Wallace] have on MasterChef is just brilliant."

She added: "When someone messes up a sauce, the way they look at each other! And if a contestant is slow getting their plates out, they both twitch in exactly the same way. I honestly think they are one of the great TV couples."

She even jokingly quipped: "I'm not even sure we have that," as she shared how Wallace and Torode might have had an even closer connection than she did with her husband.

Meanwhile, amid John Torode's recent sacking from the BBC, his association with ITV looks set to continue after the Daily Mirror reported earlier today that the next episode of John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen will be televised on the channel as planned this Saturday (July 19).

A report by law firm Lewis Silkin upheld 45 of the allegations against Gregg Wallace, including one allegation of “unwelcome physical contact” and three of being in a state of undress. After the announcement that more than 40 allegations had been upheld, Wallace said he was “deeply sorry for any distress” he had caused.

There was also one allegation of racism upheld against Torode by Lewis Silkin. Torode previously said he had “no recollection of the incident” and was “shocked and saddened” by the allegation.

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.

“He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.

“The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”