John Torode Biography: Age, Height, Wife, Career, Books, Net Worth

Who Is John Torode?

John Torode is an Australian-born British celebrity chef, television presenter, restaurateur and cookbook author best known for presenting BBC’s MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace. He became one of the most recognizable chefs on British television after joining the revived MasterChef in 2005.

Torode spent 20 years as a MasterChef UK presenter and judge before leaving the programme in 2025. In 2026, he has continued his food career through projects with his wife, actress and fellow cook Lisa Faulkner, including their YouTube channel and cooking brand.

Early Life and Education

John Douglas Torode was born on July 23, 1965, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was the youngest of three boys.

His childhood was shaped by a major family loss. His mother died when he was four years old, after which John and his brother Andrew spent several years living with their grandmother in Maitland, New South Wales. His grandmother played an important role in his early relationship with food and taught him how to cook. He later returned to Melbourne to live with his father and brothers.

Torode developed an interest in cooking from a young age. At 16, he attended catering school and began working in professional kitchens. His early training included work at Le Coq Au Vin in Aspendale and restaurants in Beaumaris before he eventually moved into a much larger culinary world.

His professional development eventually took him to the United Kingdom, where he worked with the Conran Group and gained experience in some of London’s most respected restaurant kitchens.

Career

John Torode’s professional career began in kitchens before expanding into restaurants, television, publishing and food-related media.

After moving to Britain in the 1990s, he worked with Terence Conran’s restaurant group. One of his significant early positions was running Mezzo in London in 1995.

Torode later opened his own restaurants, including Smiths of Smithfield in 2000 and Cafeteria in 2001. His restaurant career helped establish his reputation within London’s food industry before television turned him into a household name.

His first major television exposure came through ITV’s This Morning, where he appeared as a resident chef. He later appeared on several food programmes before landing the role that would define his television career.

John Torode on MasterChef

Torode became a household name in 2005 when he joined Gregg Wallace as a presenter and judge on the revamped BBC series MasterChef. The programme was initially known as MasterChef Goes Large before returning to MasterChef.

For two decades, Torode and Wallace became closely associated with the programme, judging amateur cooks and later appearing together on Celebrity MasterChef and other MasterChef-related projects.

The pairing became one of the most recognizable partnerships in British food television. Torode was generally regarded as the more chef-focused member of the judging duo, drawing on his professional restaurant experience when assessing contestants.

Away from MasterChef, Torode developed an extensive television career centred around food, travel and cooking.

His programmes have included John Torode’s Australia, John Torode’s Asia, John Torode’s Korean Food Tour, John Torode’s Malaysian Adventure, John Torode’s Middle East, John Torode’s Ireland and John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen.

He has also appeared on programmes including Good Morning Britain and A Cook Abroad, while continuing to develop food and travel projects.

John Torode’s Departure From MasterChef

Torode’s long-running MasterChef career ended in 2025.

His departure followed the controversy surrounding Gregg Wallace and an investigation into allegations about Wallace’s conduct during his time on MasterChef. Torode was subsequently dismissed by the BBC after an allegation concerning his use of a racial slur while singing along to a Kanye West song at a 2019 MasterChef wrap party. Torode said he did not remember the incident.

The BBC’s decision ended Torode’s 20-year run on the programme. He has since moved forward with other food and media projects rather than returning to MasterChef.

John Torode and Lisa Faulkner

Torode’s professional and personal life became increasingly connected with actress Lisa Faulkner. The pair first met through Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, when Faulkner appeared as a contestant and went on to win the competition. Their relationship developed over several years, and they married on October 24, 2019.

Together they have presented cooking programmes and developed a shared food brand. In 2026, the couple have continued producing content through their John and Lisa’s Kitchen and Home YouTube channel, cooking projects and their J&L by ProChef range.

John Torode’s Personal Life

John Torode has been married twice. He first married Jessica Torode, and they later divorced. He subsequently began a relationship with Lisa Faulkner, whom he married in 2019.

Torode has four children from his previous relationships. Faulkner has one adopted daughter, Billie, from her previous marriage to actor Chris Coghill.

He and Faulkner have become known for combining their family life with their shared passion for cooking. Their relationship has also become an important part of their post-MasterChef media career.

In 2026, the couple faced a difficult period after Faulkner was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery and radiation treatment, while Torode has spoken publicly about how the experience changed his priorities and made family and health more important to him.

Social Media Handles

John Torode maintains a public presence around his cooking and television work, while much of his current online activity is connected with his joint projects with Lisa Faulkner.

The couple’s John and Lisa’s Kitchen and Home YouTube channel has become an important part of their current food-content career, allowing them to share recipes, cooking ideas and aspects of their home life directly with viewers.

John Torode’s Awards and Recognition

Torode’s contribution to food and charity was recognized in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Platinum Jubilee Honours, when he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

He has also received recognition for his cookbook work. His early cookbook, The Mezzo Cookbook, won the James Beard Award for Best Food Photography in 1998.

John Torode’s Cookbooks

John Torode has written several cookbooks throughout his career, drawing on his professional cooking experience and his interest in international cuisine.

His published works include The Mezzo Cookbook, My Kind of Food and Sydney to Seoul. He has also collaborated with Lisa Faulkner on cooking books and projects connected to their television work.

His cookbooks have helped extend his career beyond television and restaurants, giving him another long-term connection with food audiences.

John Torode’s Net Worth

John Torode has an estimated net worth of around £8 million to £9 million (approximately $10 million to $12 million).

He has built his wealth through decades of professional cooking, television work, restaurant ventures, cookbook sales, appearances, and other food-related businesses.

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