Best Of

Why is the whole masterchef, Greg, John Torode story such huge news? As I don’t watch Masterchef am I missing a huge cultural moment like the first Impressionists exhibition?

From what I’ve heard on the radio of the Torode story calls for his resignation would be an injustice.

It appears that 7-8 years ago he made a perceived racist remark. The accuser says it was not malicious and he apologised immediately when challenged. Torode says he has no recollection of the incident.

Assuming the accusation is correct it seems like offence was caused, apologies were made and accepted and everyone moved on with their lives. What is the purpose of digging it up 8 years later?

How can people feel better about themselves without burning a witch every day?

I believe the PC term is "conflagrating a female-identifying occult practitioner"

You have been cancelled for the disgusting term “occult practitioner”

The correct term is “Wiccan faith practitioner”

Please report to Martyrs Memorial, Oxford, for public involuntary cremation.

It’s ludicrous to be firing someone over one alleged racist joke who then apologised . That should be the end of the matter .

OTOH I can't believe the BBC got Wallace involved with the latest Masterchef series, I know they'll have to pay him salary till the allegations are proven (or not) one way or the other but surely sticking him on paid leave and getting say Galetti in his place to do the regular series would have been a prudent move.

The chemistry of the show needs an Everyman character like Wallace. NOT a pro chef but someone good on camera and can be funny and puts people at ease (this is not a comment on whatever he did or didn’t do off camera)

I’ve heard from people who work on the show that he is not just good at this but crucially good. The two chefs are lofty and superior, Wallace is a pivot between them and the contestants and the audience, Wallace enjoys food but as an amateur

What you’re saying is like @Roger saying “oh just find a funny guy, he will replace Jeremy Clarkson, that’s Top Gear sorted”

Gregg Wallace is not a truly big talent like Clarkson but he’s definitely a talent

The BBC need someone like him but not him

I just think he was too high a risk for this (Already filmed, not yet put out) series though. I think there's other people they could have got in. Galetti is familiar with the format from presenting professionals, and less haughty than I think Wareing who defo wouldn't go well with Torrode.

I see banner headlines today announcing that Donald Trump is 'disappointed' with Vladimir Putin. Very poignant. I'm disappointed in both of them quite frankly.

"I am disappointed in Vladimir Putin so I am giving him 50 days to take as much of Ukraine as he can before making a peace deal based around all those advances Russia has made into Ukraine in those 50 days. Good luck Vlad."

As if anything is going to happen after 50 days, how many deadlines have been set that have come and gone.

The same nearly happened with Iran, but Israel called his bluff and when the deadline elapsed they stepped in - had they not done so, it would have been on the never never like it is with Russia.

What are you suggesting? Putin attacks Ukraine with fire and fury so Trump has to join the pro Putin coalition with more fire and fury. Granted, that should get the war finished quickly

I'm suggesting TACO will stand back and do bugger all

50 days will come and go and nothing will happen. Putin is too weak to force a victory in Ukraine, Trump is too chicken to stand up to Putin, so the war will still be going.

Also note that Trump reverts to his first choice of 'very tough tariffs', which ignores (intentionally or not):

1. That the US does very little trade with Russia so tariffs make sod all difference;
2. That Putin won't care about the few sectors that are affected.
3. That it'll have no impact on Russia's war-making capacity.

If Trump was serious about being very disappointed, he'd be ramping up arms and finance supply to Ukraine, and genuine sanctions on Russia.

What Trump is really disappointed with Putin for is that he's not with Trump's project to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

It’s ludicrous to be firing someone over one alleged racist joke who then apologised . That should be the end of the matter .

OTOH I can't believe the BBC got Wallace involved with the latest Masterchef series, I know they'll have to pay him salary till the allegations are proven (or not) one way or the other but surely sticking him on paid leave and getting say Galetti in his place to do the regular series would have been a prudent move.

The chemistry of the show needs an Everyman character like Wallace. NOT a pro chef but someone good on camera and can be funny and puts people at ease (this is not a comment on whatever he did or didn’t do off camera)

I’ve heard from people who work on the show that he is not just good at this but crucially good. The two chefs are lofty and superior, Wallace is a pivot between them and the contestants and the audience, Wallace enjoys food but as an amateur

What you’re saying is like @Roger saying “oh just find a funny guy, he will replace Jeremy Clarkson, that’s Top Gear sorted”

Gregg Wallace is not a truly big talent like Clarkson but he’s definitely a talent

The BBC need someone like him but not him

Enough piffle, an actual poll

More warning signs for Labour in the latest YouGov poll:

🔥 Reform UK lead is UP 4 points
🔥 Labour support DOWN 2 points
🔥 Lib Dem and Green support UP

Reform - 28% (+2)
Labour - 22% (-2)
Tories - 17% (+1)
Libs - 16% (+1)
Greens - 12% (+1)


https://x.com/kevinaschofield/status/1945041367702384652?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw

With figures like these, the Greens should be given much more media coverage than they are. QT is a particularly egregious example,.

So should the Lib Dems. The main reason Reform have been so successful is their constant media coverage. The reason that Change UK and Alba never got off the ground, and any Sultana/Corbyn party won’t get off the ground, is that they got, and will get, very little media coverage.

Our media want a right wing party in power, preferably also racist and low tax. Reform could actually get them what they want.

And here’s a poll for @algarkirk


🚨 NEW | Reform lead by 13pts

➡️ REF – 34% (+19)
🔴 LAB – 21% (-14)
🔵 CON – 16% (-8)
🟠 LD – 11% (-2)
🟢 GRN – 11% (+4)

Via @FindoutnowUK, 9-10 Jul (+/- vs GE2024)

I got all excited then I saw @findoutnowUK and then I got less excited.

But compare like with like. Recently Findoutmadstuff have recorded Reform coming off their highs

This shows them right back at the top end of their polling. Mid 30s. Gamechanging levels of support

I did say at the time the Labour revival would tee up claims by Goodwin of an even bigger Reform revival.*

* I am not dissing a BPC registered polling genius by the way. To be clear.

Goodwin today is attacking entryists into Reform from the old dispensation Tories like Berry, on the basis that they won't be with the low tax, small state, anti welfare agenda. He overlooks the fact, which is as plain as it is possible to be, that Reform's voters are also large state, large welfare/pensions/NHS/free stuff supporters too. It is plain that Farage has spotted this obvious truth. I don't think Goodwin is quite with the programme.

It’s ludicrous to be firing someone over one alleged racist joke who then apologised . That should be the end of the matter .

OTOH I can't believe the BBC got Wallace involved with the latest Masterchef series, I know they'll have to pay him salary till the allegations are proven (or not) one way or the other but surely sticking him on paid leave and getting say Galetti in his place to do the regular series would have been a prudent move.

The chemistry of the show needs an Everyman character like Wallace. NOT a pro chef but someone good on camera and can be funny and puts people at ease (this is not a comment on whatever he did or didn’t do off camera)

I’ve heard from people who work on the show that he is not just good at this but crucially good. The two chefs are lofty and superior, Wallace is a pivot between them and the contestants and the audience, Wallace enjoys food but as an amateur

What you’re saying is like @Roger saying “oh just find a funny guy, he will replace Jeremy Clarkson, that’s Top Gear sorted”

Gregg Wallace is not a truly big talent like Clarkson but he’s definitely a talent

The BBC need someone like him but not him

Does Jeremy Clarkson like food?

Only if it's hot, gets a bit punchy if it's not.

It’s ludicrous to be firing someone over one alleged racist joke who then apologised . That should be the end of the matter .

OTOH I can't believe the BBC got Wallace involved with the latest Masterchef series, I know they'll have to pay him salary till the allegations are proven (or not) one way or the other but surely sticking him on paid leave and getting say Galetti in his place to do the regular series would have been a prudent move.

The chemistry of the show needs an Everyman character like Wallace. NOT a pro chef but someone good on camera and can be funny and puts people at ease (this is not a comment on whatever he did or didn’t do off camera)

I’ve heard from people who work on the show that he is not just good at this but crucially good. The two chefs are lofty and superior, Wallace is a pivot between them and the contestants and the audience, Wallace enjoys food but as an amateur

What you’re saying is like @Roger saying “oh just find a funny guy, he will replace Jeremy Clarkson, that’s Top Gear sorted”

Gregg Wallace is not a truly big talent like Clarkson but he’s definitely a talent

The BBC need someone like him but not him

Does Jeremy Clarkson like food?

Probably more of a piss artist. He's got that massive kite/skinny legs combo that seems typical of the permanently drunk.