Masterchef star John Torode has lifted the lid on “tension” he had with Gregg Wallace while they were working on the show together.
Despite knowing each other for 30 years, both Gregg and John have made it clear they are not friends off-screen.
Speaking to the Radio Times on Wednesday, John revealed that there was “frisson” between him and Gregg but this ultimately never held back their partnership.
John said: “‘We lead separate lives. At no stage have we morphed into each other, which means there’s always going to be a little frisson here and there.
“It’s no bad thing; there’s an energy with that tension, which is useful.
“We never know for sure what the other will think about a dish.”
The pair first met when Gregg was a greengrocer and supplied produce for one of Torode’s restaurants.
But their relationship has never been close. They haven’t visited each other’s houses and rarely spend time together.
In February, Gregg discussed his relationship with John.
He said: “We trust each other completely. We feel safe with each other. We know that the other one isn’t going to – on camera, anyway – ridicule the other one.
“We don’t fight for space. We don’t fight for time. There is no ego clash.”
Gregg is under fire for multiple instances of alleged misconduct during his time on Masterchef.
The BBC has now cancelled two MasterChef Christmas specials after Gregg was accused of making inappropriate comments and groping.
Gregg’s lawyers have previously strongly denied “he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
John has now addressed the allegations against his co-star, saying: “Since last Friday I have been away filming MasterChef overseas…I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it.
“During the last few days, I’ve been trying to make the best cookery programme, so being busy making the show and caring for our contestants has allowed me little time to think about anything else, but that has been hard.
“But as I hope everyone appreciates there is an investigation underway, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.”