John Torode opens up on relationship with Gregg Wallace after more than 20 years

John Torode has lifted the lid on his relationship with fellow MasterChef host Gregg Wallace. The nature of their relationship has often attracted interest, with Australian Torode once saying they were 'work colleagues' who have 'always stayed work colleagues' and they did not go round each other's houses.

The pair started working together on the revamped MasterChef in 2005 - but they actually knew each from a few years earlier when Wallace, now 59, started supplying vegetables to Torode, 58, and his London restaurant. The show has been a hit since, but speculation continues to bubble over the relationship between the two men.

Appearing on BBC's Morning Live, Torode was asked by host Gethin Jones: "How have you put up with 20 years of Gregg Wallace? That's the first question."

Wallace laughed while a thin smile played on Torode's lips. He then answered: "It’s a joy isn’t it?

"We love each other. We’ve been together for a really long time and it’s pretty extraordinary. Twenty years later, we still hug each other and say hello and we’re nice to each other, so that’s pretty good."

Speaking about the show's popularity, Wallace said: "There is loads and loads of creativity every year. We both had careers in food for years and years and, after 20 years of MasterChef, we are still getting dishes and ingredients that we haven't before. Well, perhaps we have seen them before but I rely on John to remind me that I've seen them before. We still get lots of surprises - it's amazing."

Wallace also spoke about their reactions whenever they try food that has not hit the mark. Speaking about whether he has ever been really hard on someone, he said: "Never, ever, ever would we humiliate somebody. There's absolutely no need for that.

"What you might say is 'look, when you put that chocolate bar in the duck it was unusual, it was challenging, it is not something I would like to revisit again. But throw it on the floor and embarrass them? No that is not my style, it's definitely not John's style and it is not the MasterChef way."