John Douglas Torode is an Australian and British celebrity chef, television presenter, restaurateur and cookbook author who became one of the most recognisable figures in British food television. Born on July 23, 1965, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, he built his professional reputation through restaurant kitchens before moving into television and becoming best known for presenting MasterChef.
Torode moved to the United Kingdom in 1991 and developed his culinary career through some of London’s prominent restaurants before establishing himself as a television chef. His television career began with appearances on ITV’s This Morning, while his work as a restaurateur and cookbook author helped establish him as a respected figure in the food industry.
For two decades, Torode was closely associated with MasterChef, presenting the BBC programme alongside Gregg Wallace from its relaunch in 2005. He also appeared on other food programmes, published numerous cookbooks and received an MBE in 2022 for services to food and charity.
John Torode Early Life
John Douglas Torode was born on July 23, 1965, as the youngest of three boys in Melbourne, Victoria. When he was four years old, his mother died, and between the ages of four and ten he and his brother Andrew lived in Maitland, New South Wales, with their grandmother. His grandmother played an important role in his early relationship with food and taught him how to cook.
At the age of ten, Torode returned to Melbourne to live in Edithvale with his father and brothers. His father was frequently away from home because of work, and Torode has described his grandmother as an important influence on his childhood. Cooking became something he was comfortable with, and food eventually became the foundation of his professional ambitions.
Torode’s early cooking career began at Le Coq Au Vin restaurant in Aspendale, Melbourne. He later completed apprenticeships at several establishments in Beaumaris. His childhood experiences with his grandmother’s cooking, combined with his early restaurant training, helped shape the culinary style and passion that would define his career.
John Torode Education
John Torode left school at the age of 16 to pursue professional culinary training. Rather than following a conventional academic route, he enrolled in catering college and began building practical skills that would eventually lead him into professional restaurant kitchens.
His education was therefore strongly centred on culinary training and practical experience. The decision to attend catering college reflected his early commitment to cooking and allowed him to begin developing the technical skills required to work professionally in the food industry.
There is no widely documented record of Torode attending university or completing a conventional university degree. His professional education continued through apprenticeships, restaurant work and years of practical experience in kitchens in Australia and the United Kingdom.
John Torode Career
Torode began his professional cooking career at 16 before moving to the United Kingdom in 1991. In 1992, he began working as a sous chef at Le Pont de la Tour and Quaglino’s for the Conran Group under Terence Conran. It was while working at Quaglino’s that he first met Gregg Wallace, whose company supplied vegetables to the restaurant.
Torode made his first significant television appearances on ITV’s This Morning in 1996, establishing himself as a television chef. In 1998, his cookbook The Mezzo Cookbook won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Food Photography. He also developed his restaurant career, opening Smiths of Smithfield in London and later becoming involved with other restaurant ventures.
His biggest television breakthrough came in 2005 when MasterChef was relaunched on BBC One with Torode and Gregg Wallace as presenters. The programme became a major part of his public identity and helped transform him from a professional chef and restaurateur into a household television personality. He subsequently became associated with Celebrity MasterChef and Junior MasterChef as well as other food and travel programmes.
Beyond television, Torode built a substantial publishing career through cookbooks including My Kind of Food, John Torode’s Beef, John Torode’s Chicken and Other Birds and Sydney to Seoul. He also continued working on food related television projects and appeared alongside his wife Lisa Faulkner on John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen.
In 2022, Torode was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to food and charity. His career has therefore extended across professional cooking, restaurant ownership, television presenting, publishing and food education, making him one of the best known Australian born chefs to establish a major career in Britain.
John Torode Leaves MasterChef Following an Upheld Racist Language Allegation
John Torode attracted renewed public attention after his MasterChef contract was not renewed in July 2025 following an investigation that upheld an allegation that he had used an extremely offensive racist term. Torode confirmed that he was the person involved in the allegation but said he had no recollection of the incident and did not believe it happened. The allegation was said to relate to an incident in 2018 or 2019.
The development effectively ended Torode’s 20 year association with MasterChef. The decision came shortly after his former co presenter Gregg Wallace was dismissed following an investigation into numerous allegations concerning his conduct. Torode’s departure created major attention because the pair had become closely associated with the programme since its relaunch in 2005.
Torode has since continued working in food television with his wife, Lisa Faulkner, while also focusing more heavily on family life and their shared food projects. In 2026, public interest in his personal life increased again following Faulkner’s breast cancer diagnosis and the couple’s decision to build a new chapter together through their cooking projects and YouTube presence.
John Torode Personal Life
John Torode has four children from previous relationships. He was previously married to Jessica, with whom he had children, and the marriage ended in divorce after their separation. Torode has generally maintained a degree of privacy around his children and wider family life.
Torode began a relationship with actress and cook Lisa Faulkner after they met through Celebrity MasterChef. Faulkner had won Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, and their relationship later developed into a long term partnership. The couple married on October 24, 2019, at Aynhoe Park in Oxfordshire.
Torode and Faulkner have also developed a professional partnership through food television and publishing. They have presented cooking programmes together and worked on cookbooks. In 2026, Faulkner revealed that she had been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, undergone surgery and received an all clear from her doctors, although she still required radiotherapy. The experience has reportedly changed the couple’s priorities and strengthened their focus on family and wellbeing.
John Torode Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
John Torode was born on July 23, 1965, making him 61 years old in 2026. He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and holds Australian and British nationality. He has spent most of his professional life in the United Kingdom and became a prominent figure in British television and food culture.
Torode’s religion has not been reliably documented, so a specific religious affiliation cannot be confirmed. His professional identity is strongly associated with Australian culinary traditions and British food television, reflecting the two countries that have shaped his personal and professional life.
Torode’s height is not consistently documented, with published figures varying significantly, so an exact height should be treated with caution. He has a recognisable physical appearance associated with his television career, including a broad build, short grey hair and a distinctive beard in many of his public appearances.
John Torode Social Media Presence
John Torode maintains a social media presence connected to his food, television and personal projects. His Instagram handle is @johntorode, where he has shared cooking content, professional appearances, family moments and updates relating to his career.
His social media activity has also been significant during major developments in his career. Torode used Instagram to respond publicly after his departure from MasterChef and has continued to remain connected with audiences through digital food content.
John Torode Net Worth
John Torode’s exact net worth has not been officially confirmed. His wealth has been accumulated through several decades of professional work in restaurants, television, publishing and food related businesses rather than from one single source of income.
Based on the length and level of his career, his television work, restaurant ventures, cookbook sales and long standing position as a major British food personality, a cautious estimate would place John Torode’s net worth at approximately £5 million to £8 million. This is an estimated figure rather than a confirmed financial disclosure.
Torode’s continued work in television, publishing and digital media provides additional income opportunities even after his departure from MasterChef. His long career, brand recognition and partnership with Lisa Faulkner have allowed him to remain commercially active within the food and lifestyle industry.
John Torode Legacy
John Torode’s legacy is closely connected to the transformation of British food television. Through MasterChef, he helped bring professional culinary judgement into mainstream television and became one of the programme’s defining personalities during its two decade run.
His influence extends beyond television. His restaurant work, cookbooks and food related projects helped introduce audiences to different cooking techniques and ingredients while making professional cooking more accessible to home cooks.
Torode’s legacy also includes his longevity in the food industry. From learning to cook with his grandmother in Australia to working in major London restaurants and becoming an MBE recipient, his career demonstrates how practical culinary training can develop into a broad career spanning restaurants, television, publishing and food education.
Conclusion
John Torode is an Australian born British chef, television presenter, restaurateur and author whose career has spanned more than four decades. Best known for his long association with MasterChef, he has built a lasting reputation through television, restaurants, cookbooks and food related projects, while his recent departure from MasterChef and continued work with Lisa Faulkner have marked a new chapter in his professional and personal life.
Frequently Asked Questions About John Torode
Who is John Torode?
John Torode is an Australian born British celebrity chef, television presenter, restaurateur and cookbook author best known for presenting MasterChef.
How old is John Torode?
John Torode was born on July 23, 1965, making him 61 years old in 2026.
Where was John Torode born?
John Torode was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Who is John Torode’s wife?
John Torode’s wife is actress and television personality Lisa Faulkner. They married in October 2019.
How many children does John Torode have?
John Torode has four children from previous relationships.
Why did John Torode leave MasterChef?
John Torode’s contract with MasterChef was not renewed in 2025 after an investigation upheld an allegation involving the use of racist language. Torode said he had no recollection of the incident and did not believe it happened.
How long was John Torode on MasterChef?
John Torode presented MasterChef from its relaunch in 2005 until his departure following the 2025 controversy, giving him approximately 20 years with the programme.
What is John Torode’s nationality?
John Torode was born in Australia and is Australian and British.
What is John Torode’s Instagram handle?
John Torode’s Instagram handle is @johntorode.
What is John Torode’s net worth?
John Torode’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. His estimated net worth is approximately £5 million to £8 million based on his decades of work in television, restaurants, publishing and the food industry.
What restaurants has John Torode owned?
John Torode has been associated with restaurants including Smiths of Smithfield and other restaurant ventures during his career.
What is John Torode known for?
John Torode is best known for MasterChef, his work as a professional chef and television presenter, his cookbooks and his restaurant career.
When did John Torode receive his MBE?
John Torode was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2022 for services to food and charity.
Is John Torode still a chef?
Yes. Although his career has increasingly focused on television, publishing and food media, he remains professionally involved in cooking and food related projects.
What happened to John Torode’s wife Lisa Faulkner?
Lisa Faulkner revealed in 2026 that she had been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. She underwent surgery and later received an all clear from her doctors, with radiotherapy still required as part of her treatment.