John Torode is an Australian celebrity chef who is much-loved by the British public. Although his fame in the UK has grown over the last two decades, there are many John Torode facts that people do not know. He is best known for presenting MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace. However, he has also presented and appeared in many other food-related programs. Furthermore, he has enjoyed success as a chef, restaurateur, and cookery book writer. If you are a fan of this celebrity chef, here are 25 John Torode facts you probably did not know.
25 John Torode Facts That You Probably Do Not Know
John Torode Facts: His Personal Life
- Where Was John Torode Born?
John Douglas Torode was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 23rd July 1965. He is the youngest of three boys.
- His Mother Died When He was Just Four
John Torode told The Guardian that his mother died when he was just four years old. As there was no support for single fathers in those days and his father needed to work, Torode and his two older brothers went to live with their grandmother in rural Maitland, north of Sydney. He lived with her until he was 120, then returned to live with his father.
- Torode’s Grandma Taught Him to Cook
Torode’s first experience of cooking was thanks to his grandma. She would get him involved when she was cooking meals and taught him all the basics he needed to know. He remembers her teaching him how to make roast chicken and real gravy.
- Is John Torode Married?
John Torode has been married twice. He married his first wife, Jessica, in 2000. They separated in 2011 before eventually divorcing in 2014. His second wife is Lisa Faulkner, an actress. The couple met in 2010 when Faulkner was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 and won the series. They married in 2019 at Aynhoe Park in Oxfordshire.
- Does John Torode Have Children?
John Torode has four children. His younger two children are from his first marriage, while his older two children are from a previous relationship. He says that when his elder children were born, he was busy opening a restaurant in Europe, so he was not as hands-on with them as he was with his two younger children. However, he claims he now has a close relationship with all four of his children.
- Torode is Also a Stepdad
Since his second marriage, John Torode has also become a stepdad. John Torode’s wife, Lisa Faulkner, has an adopted daughter called Billie. Torode admits that he found it difficult at first to live with somebody else’s child but says they all get along fine and enjoy family days out together.
Facts About John Torode: His Career Before Television
- He Trained at Culinary College
While some chefs have no formal training and have simply gained lots of experience in the kitchen, John Torode attended culinary college in Australia. He spent three years learning the ropes, beginning at the age of 16.
- Torode’s Culinary Career Began in Melbourne Australia
His first job was at Le Coq Au Vin restaurant in Aspendale, which is a suburb of Melbourne. He then continued his apprenticeship at several other establishments in the Melbourne area.
- When DId John Torode Move to the UK?
MasterChef presenter John Torode moved to the UK in 1991 to continue his career in a new country. One of his first jobs in the UK was working at Le Pont de la Tour. He was then appointed as a sous chef at Quaglino’s, which is part of the Conran Group. During his time at this restaurant, he trained under Terence Conran.
- Torode Met Gregg Wallace While Working at a Restaurant
When you think of John Torode, you automatically think of Gregg Wallace, as the two have worked alongside each other for so long. It was while Torode was working at Quaglino’s that the duo first met. At that time, Wallace’s company supplied the restaurant with fruit and vegetables.
John Torode Facts: His Television Career
- He Blagged Himself a Spot on This Morning
Torode’s first appearance on television was on This Morning in 1996, and he blagged his way into getting a cooking spot. He was working at a restaurant called Mezzo in London, and a film crew came in to do some filming. As the crew were leaving, Torode approached them and said that if they ever wanted someone for television, he was interested in the position. They later contacted him, offering the opportunity to present a cooking slot. Other chefs who became famous after appearing on This Morning include Gino D’Acampo, James Martin, Phil Vickery, and Nisha Katona.
- Torode Has Presented MasterChef Since 2005
Torode is probably best known for co-presenting and judging MasterChef with Gregg Wallace. He has presented this television cooking competition since 2005 when he and Wallace replaced Gary Rhodes. He also co-presents and judges MasterChef celebrity alongside Gregg Wallace. Furthermore, he has co-presented Junior MasterChef with both Donal Skehan and Nadia Sawalha. The latter is a former winner of Celebrity MasterChef.
- He Caused Uproar Over His Criticism of a Chicken Rendang
Although he is generally liked by the public, there have been times when his popularity has waned. One example is when he caused controversy about a popular Asian dish called chicken rendang. He criticized a MasterChef for her rendang dish, saying that the chicken was not crispy enough, so it was inedible. It caused an uproar because the chicken in rendang is not traditionally crispy. It upset the people of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, and event the Malaysian Prime Minister took to Twitter in protest.
More Facts ABout Torode’s Television Career
- He Presents a Series with His Wife
One of John Torode’s most recent ventures is presenting a cookery series with his wife, Lisa Faulkner. The series, which is filed in the couple’s home, is called John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen. It is aired on Saturdays in the UK.
- He Toured His Home Country to Promote Australian Food
John Torode is passionate about Australian food, and it inspired his 2014 series John Torode’s Australia. He toured the country to show people the food he ate while growing up in Australia. This led to him presenting further series touring a variety of countries, including Malaysia, Korea, and the Middle East.
- Torode Has Made Multiple Guest Appearances
As a popular celebrity chef, John Torode has made multiple guest appearances on the television. Some of these have included ‘The Graham Norton Show’, ‘Alan Carr: Chatty Man’, ‘This Morning’, ‘Loose Women’, and ‘The One Show’. As a keen cyclist, he has also appeared on ‘The Cycle Show’. He has also appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia, alongside judges including Matt Preston, George Calombaris, and Gary Mehigan.
His Career as a Cookery Writer
- How Many Books Has John Torode Published?
In addition to his television work, John Torode is also a successful cookery writer. In total, he has written 11 books. The first was the 1997 book ‘The Mezzo Cookbook’, and he wrote this in collaboration with several other chefs. His most recent book is ‘Sydney to Seoul’, which was published in 2019.
- He is an Award-Winning Cookery Writer
One of the John Torode facts you might not know is that he has won an award for his cookery writing. His first book won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Food Photography the year after the book was published.
Other Interesting John Torode Facts
- His Favourite Food is Roast Chicken
Although he has travelled the world eating international cuisine and sampled dishes created by some of the world’s top chefs, John Torode maintains that his all-time favourite food is roast chicken. For him, it is comfort food that reminds him of his childhood. He also loves crumbed lamb cutlets for the same reason.
- He is a Cycling Enthusiast
So, what are John Torode’s hobbies? When he is not working, one of John Torode’s favourite activities is cycling, and it is an activity he has enjoyed since he was a child. He got his first bike at the age of nine, says What’s On TV. While working in the UK in the 1990s, he would commute to work on a bike. He says that cycling keeps his weight down, and it is something that he needs to do because he eats for a living.
- He Once Hung with Wallace from the Tate Modern
Throughout his career, John Torode has enjoyed many interesting experiences. One of his most unusual experiences was hanging from the Tate Modern in London with MasterChef co-presenter Gregg Wallace. It was part of a stunt by magicians Barry and Stuart for the BBC series ‘The Magicians’.
- John Torode’s Net Worth is £7.9 Million
According to The Express, John Torode’s net worth is an estimated £7.9 million. It is significantly higher than his MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace’s net worth of £3.9 million. Torode has made his money through a combination of working as a chef, owning restaurants, writing cookery books, and presenting television series. Although he is wealthy, John Torode is not one of the richest celebrity chefs in the world.
Other Facts You Might Like to Know
- He Cooks for Relaxation
As he cooks and eats for a living, you may assume that he would rather do anything other than cook in his spare time. However, John Torode says that he finds cooking relaxing and that it has the same therapeutic effect as yoga.
- Torode Has a Huge Social Media Following
The celebrity chef’s popularity is evident, as he has a growing number of social media followers. On his Instagram account, he has 162 thousand followers.
- He Lives in London
You might also wonder where does John Torode live? John Torode and Lisa Faulkner live in a stunning home in London. Their beautiful kitchen is regularly seen when they present John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen together. The Sun says that the impressive dining room is like a restaurant.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our 25 John Torode facts that you probably did not know.
You might also like to read our facts about Paul Hollywood, Monica Galetti, Mary Berry, Nigella Lawson, and Marcus Wareing. Updated 30/12/2023