MasterChef guest judge fires swipe at co-star over 'cruel' comments to contestants

Michael Moran
·3-min read
Rayner has had a long and storied career as a food writer
-Credit:Vincent Cole - Manchester Evening News


MasterChef guest judge Jay Rayner criticised one of his fellow judges over perceived 'cruel' comments made to contestants on the BBC show. The producers of the long-running cookery competition Masterchef may have hoped that the show would be free from scandal, now that former host Gregg Wallace has “stepped down” following a string of sexual misconduct complaints.

According to the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden, food critic Jay Rayner has no time for fellow Masterchef judge William Sitwell. Speaking at an event in London’s Olympia, the 58-year-old son of legendary agony aunt Claire Rayner said: “You have to be honest, but you have to find language which isn't cruel. Sometimes William chooses that route, and derision is brought down upon him.”

Rayner scornfully added that Sitwell risked becoming a hate figure for viewers: “If you don't mind the Great British public hating you, then go for it,” he said. By contrast Rayner added, he owed his long career to being diplomatic, as well as knowledgeable: “I'm employed not just because I know about food, but because I can shape a phrase that will be editable and true.

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William Sitwell is the grandson of writer and critic Sir Sacheverell Sitwell, 6th Baronet and the great-nephew of writer Sir Osbert Sitwell, 5th Baronet and of poet and critic Dame Edith Sitwell
MasterChef's William Sitwell -Credit:Getty Images Europe

“My main job is to come up with phrases editable and true and better than anything William says.”

Meanwhile, iconic TV chef Rick Stein has a few words of comfort for ousted presenter Gregg Wallace, saying he feels "a bit sorry” for him. The 78-year-old restaurateur , whose business empire is centred on Padstow in Cornwall, says that Wallace had struggled to adapt to changing values: "I think partly he hadn't really taken on that you can't say certain things now. It's not so much that he was a nasty person," he told The Telegraph.

He added that having children who were more in touch with current social trends kept him out of trouble: "I'm lucky that I've got sons who will instantly tell me, 'listen, you can't say this'."

Rayner, seen here with Sitwell and other Masterchef regulars, is clearly not a fan of his fellow-judge
Rayner, seen here with Sitwell and other Masterchef regulars, is clearly not a fan of his fellow judge -Credit:BBC /Shine TV

Wallace stepped away from MasterChef last November as it was reported a number of allegations of historical misconduct were made against him. There were allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 individuals with production company Banijay UK investigating the claims.

Wallace apologised after suggesting the allegations came from 'a handful of middle-class women of a certain age'. He said on Instagram: "I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday, and any upset I may have caused a lot of people.

"I wasn't in a good head space when I posted it. I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege, yesterday, when I posted it. It's obvious to me I need to take some time out while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope that you will accept this apology."