John Torode has been sacked as MasterChef presenter after it emerged that an allegation against him of using racist language was upheld.
On Monday, the TV chef said he had “no recollection” of the incident, adding: “I do not believe that it happened.”
But on Tuesday, it emerged he had been dismissed.
It plunges the BBC cooking show into a deeper crisis, after more than 40 separate allegations against Torode’s co-host Gregg Wallace were also upheld as part of an inquiry into his conduct.
The controversy over MasterChef started last year, when BBC News first revealed claims of inappropriate sexual language against Wallace.
Wallace was sacked last week as dozens more people came forward to BBC News with allegations against him. He has always denied the claims.