Former MasterChef presenter John Torode has launched a lucrative YouTube cooking channel with his wife Lisa Faulkner following his dismissal from the BBC last year.
Torode, 61, and Faulkner, 54, soft launched their online show, John and Lisa's Kitchen & Home, eight months ago. The couple film the series from the kitchen of their terraced home in the Muswell Hill enclave of London.
Fans of the Australian chef have been surprised and delighted to discover a softer, almost cuddly side to Torode. He previously built a television reputation as a tough-talking judge who made quivering souffles of home cooks, amateur chefs, and celebrity contestants on the BBC's flagship cooking show.
From the comfort of their home, Torode and Faulkner laugh, tease, and mock each other while preparing dishes. A well-placed source described the couple as basically the Richard and Judy of television chefs, noting that Torode often looks clueless while quick-witted Faulkner makes cheeky comments. The source added: "Who needs the BBC now?"
A source close to the pair said: "They are the Mr and Mrs of television cookery. They are smashing it."
Swapping the clinical MasterChef kitchen for their own home has proved a hit with viewers, who have admired their wooden central island, customised John & Lisa chopping board, and pale green saucepans from their own J&L cookware range produced with high street chain ProChef.
Explaining their concept on their initial video, Faulkner cuddled their schnoodle dog as she enthused: "We're cooking all our recipes from home in our kitchen which is great because we know where everything is, and we really hope you're going to join us to see our family favourites."
Home kitchen setup and online views
Since the soft launch eight months ago, John and Lisa's Kitchen & Home has accumulated more than 1.2 million views. Fans have tuned in to watch them prepare dishes such as the perfect pavlova and Faulkner's legendary roast potatoes, which she makes legendary by crumbling a stock cube into the fat first.
A video showing the couple making a batch of teatime scones has attracted more than 102,000 views. A YouTube viewer commented on their chemistry: "Love it! Lisa's cheeky innuendos that John never gets, but we get the camera wink eye from Lisa!"
Industry figures suggest such viewing numbers could earn the couple thousands of pounds. Combined with advertising revenue, side hustles such as their ProChef cookware line, and an upcoming book, Torode is expected to make more than he did from his MasterChef salary. A source remarked: "There's more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to earning cash as a telly chef."
Major commercial brands are flocking to promote products on their channel, with HSBC and Monzo banks running campaigns on their pages. Although their ITV series, John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen, looks unlikely to return, a pal said: "Never mind, they've got a second cookery book coming soon."
MasterChef dismissal and BBC allegations
Those familiar with the project say it represents the ultimate sod you to the BBC. The broadcaster sacked Torode as host of MasterChef in July last year after an allegation was made that he used the "N" word at a filming wrap party in 2019 while singing along to Gold Digger by rap star Kanye West.
Torode said he had "no recollection" of what he was accused of and had hoped to be allowed a say before being shown the door. A source noted: "John doesn't even recall saying what he was accused of and there was never any evidence of it. The die-hard MasterChef viewers have very much taken his side."
Torode's dismissal coincided with accusations of inappropriate behaviour against co-presenter Gregg Wallace. Last year, the 61-year-old Wallace was sacked after an independent report commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK found 45 out of 83 allegations were upheld. Torode and Wallace had co-presented MasterChef together since 2005 before both were axed by the BBC.
Despite the upset of losing his long-standing broadcasting role, Torode is said to be loving life back in front of the camera.
BBC strategy and future plans
The couple's online success comes as the BBC's new Director-General, Matt Brittin, considers opening up the broadcaster to user-generated content. Brittin, who joined the corporation from Google this year to replace Tim Davie, spoke at the Edinburgh International Television Festival last week.
Brittin suggested transforming an iPlayer 2.0 into a YouTube-style site hosting appropriate influencer content, built around an algorithm aimed at "educating, informing and entertaining the public here and ideally around the world."
A friend of the couple called the proposal hilarious, adding: "Should Gregg have been sacked? Yes, absolutely. But with John, it feels like they found a way to get rid of him and start afresh on MasterChef. What he has proved is that he and Lisa are extremely popular and surely the BBC will be jealous of their YouTube concept."
Relationship history and Spooks role
Friends say Faulkner was Torode's rock when he was sacked from MasterChef. The couple first met in 2010 when Faulkner, a former actress on the BBC drama Spooks, competed on and won Celebrity MasterChef.
When they met on the show, Faulkner was with her husband Chris Coghill, while Torode was with his wife Jessica. After both relationships ended, they began dating and married in 2019 at Aynhoe Park in Northamptonshire.
Seven years into their relationship, Faulkner continues to be a supportive wife while taking occasional cheeky swipes at the BBC. In one video showing Torode demonstrating how to whip up a poached egg, a smiling Faulkner joked: "The poached egg masterclass by the MasterChef!"
Faulkner previously played MI5 agent Helen Flynn in Spooks, where her character was killed by extremists using a deep-fat fryer alongside actors Kevin McNally and Shane Attwooll.
