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British talent has dominated TV’s biggest awards night, with stars including Kate Winslet, Ewan McGregor and Michaela Coel honoured – and royal drama The Crown and feel-good football comedy Ted Lasso cleaning up.

The 2021 Emmys was a night of Hollywood bowing down to the UK’s acting royalty, with The Crown named best drama and stars Olivia Colman and Josh O’Connor taking home awards for their portrayals of the Queen and Prince Charles in the fourth season of the hit Netflix series.

One of the most applauded wins of the night was Coel’s writing recognition for her hard-hitting drama I May Destroy You – an award she dedicated to “every single survivor of sexual assault”.

Winslet was named best actress in a limited series for her critically acclaimed performance as a small-town detective in gritty Sky murder drama Mare Of Easttown – in a tough category that saw her up against Cynthia Erivo, Anya Taylor-Joy and Elizabeth Olsen, as well as Coel – while McGregor picked up the best actor equivalent for Halston.

Ted Lasso, the Apple TV+ London-based comedy about an American football coach brought in to manage a struggling English Premier League club, was named best comedy for its first season, while US star Jason Sudeikis picked up the gong for best comedy actor. The series also saw wins for two of its British actors, Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein, who were named best supporting actress and actor in the comedy category.

Perhaps the only real surprise of the night came right at the end with the final award, which saw chess drama The Queen’s Gambit take home the best limited series gong ahead of favourites I May Destroy You and Mare Of Easttown.

Kate Winslet was named outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, for Mare Of Easttown, at the 2021 Emmy Awards
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Kate Winslet was named outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, for Mare Of Easttown, while Jason Sudeikis (below) won the award for best actor in a comedy, for Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis with the Emmy award for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, for Ted Lasso

The biggest night in US TV returned to downtown Los Angeles for a glamourous in-person event, 12 months after last year’s pandemic-hit remote ceremony, while many of The Crown stars accepted their awards at a ceremony in London. It was a huge night for the royal show – and a fitting end to Colman’s reign after two seasons, with Imelda Staunton set to take over in series five.

Oscar-winner Colman delivered yet another memorable awards show acceptance speech, becoming emotional as she paid tribute to her late father, who died during the pandemic. “What a lovely end to the most extraordinary journey with this lovely family,” she said. “I loved every second of it and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

She continued: “I wish my dad was here to see this. I lost my daddy during Covid and he would have loved all of this.”

During his speech, O’Connor paid tribute to his co-star Emma Corrin, who played Princess Diana and was nominated alongside Colman, describing the actress as a “force of nature”. The Crown’s supporting stars also won, with Gillian Anderson and Tobias Menzies recognised for playing Margaret Thatcher and the Duke of Edinburgh respectively.

Coel, the star and creator of the critically acclaimed I May Destroy You, which explores the issues of consent and sexual assault, used her acceptance speech to send a message to fellow writers, saying that “visibility these days seems to somehow equate to success, do not be afraid to disappear, from it, from us, for a while and see what comes to you in the silence”.

Winslet’s win, in one of the most competitive categories, saw her recognised for playing the vape-smoking detective Mare in Mare Of Easttown, one of the year’s most talked about dramas. Accepting her prize, the actress said the decade must be about “women having each other’s backs” – and thanked the show’s creator for writing a lead character who is a “middle-aged, imperfect, flawed mother”, adding: “You made us all feel validated.”

Gillian Anderson was named best supporting actress in a drama for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Crown at the 2021 Emmy Awards
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Gillian Anderson, who played Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, was another winner for the hit royal drama

The supporting stars of Mare Of Easttown also won in the limited series category, with Julianne Nicholson named outstanding supporting actress and Evan Peters outstanding supporting actor – both thanked Winslet in their speeches.

Elsewhere, the ceremony’s In Memoriam section included tributes to stars including Larry King, Helen McCrory, Cicely Tyson and Michael K Williams – who died earlier in September, and had been nominated in the supporting actor category for drama.

Actress, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen was the recipient of this year’s governor’s award, the TV Academy’s lifetime achievement prize – becoming the first black woman to be honoured with the gong.

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MasterChef presenter John Torode sacked

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MasterChef presenter John Torode sacked

MasterChef presenter John Torode will no longer work on the show after an allegation he used an “extremely offensive racist term” was upheld, the BBC has said.

His co-host Gregg Wallace was also sacked last week after claims of inappropriate behaviour.

On Monday, Torode said an allegation he used racist language was upheld in a report into the behaviour of Wallace. The report found more than half of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated.

Torode, 59, insisted he had “absolutely no recollection” of the alleged incident involving him and he “did not believe that it happened,” adding “racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment”.

John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic:PA
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John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic: PA

In a statement on Tuesday, a BBC spokesperson said the allegation “involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace”.

The claim was “investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin”, they added.

“The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously,” the spokesperson said.

“We will not tolerate racist language of any kind… we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken.

“John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”

Australian-born Torode started presenting MasterChef alongside Wallace, 60, in 2005.

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Why Gregg Wallace says he ‘will not go quietly’

A statement from Banijay UK said it “takes this matter incredibly seriously” and Lewis Silkin “substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018”.

“This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint,” the TV production company added.

“Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.”

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Earlier, as the BBC released its annual report, its director-general Tim Davie addressed MasterChef’s future, saying it can survive as it is “much bigger than individuals”.

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BBC annual report findings

Speaking to BBC News after Torode was sacked, Mr Davie said a decision is yet to be taken over whether an unseen MasterChef series – filmed with both Wallace and Torode last year – will be aired.

“It’s a difficult one because… those amateur chefs gave a lot to take part – it means a lot, it can be an enormous break if you come through the show,” he added.

“I want to just reflect on that with the team and make a decision, and we’ll communicate that in due course.”

Mr Davie refused to say what the “seriously racist term” Torode was alleged to have used but said: “I certainly think we’ve drawn a line in the sand.”

In 2022, Torode was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to food and charity.

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BBC gives update on MasterChef’s future after Gregg Wallace allegations – as annual report released

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MasterChef is 'bigger than individuals' and 'can survive', BBC says

The head of the BBC says MasterChef can survive its current scandal as it is “much bigger than individuals” – but the corporation must “make sure we’re in the right place in terms of the culture of the show”.

Director-general Tim Davie said he “absolutely” thinks the popular cooking contest has a future, with the production’s current deal with the corporation set to run out in 2028, and praised it as “a great programme that’s loved by audiences”.

Speaking as the BBC unveiled its annual report, and following a series of recent controversies, Mr Davie said the corporation’s leadership team will not “tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values”, and confirmed “senior individuals and people involved in these cases are being held to account”.

On Monday, it was revealed an independent review into “inappropriate behaviour” by MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace had upheld more than half of the allegations against him.

In response, Wallace said he was “deeply sorry” and never set out to “harm or humiliate”.

A few hours later, MasterChef presenter John Torode said an allegation he used “racial language” was upheld in the report as part of a review.

Torode has said he has “no recollection of the incident” and “did not believe that it happened”.

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Pic: Casey Gutteridge/Shutterstock 

John Torode and Gregg Wallace
Childline Ball, Old Billingsgate Walk, London, UK - 26 Sep 2019
This years MasterChef themed Childline Ball took place at 1 Old Billingsgate Walk, London. Guests were joined by MasterChef judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode, with all the money raised during the evening going directly to Childline's vital work supporting children.
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John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2019. Pic: Casey Gutteridge/Shutterstock

Mr Davie said the BBC’s leadership team would not “tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values,” while BBC chair Samir Shah acknowledged there were still pockets within the corporation where “powerful individuals” can still “make life for their colleagues unbearable”.

They said several BBC staff members had been dismissed in the last three months following an independent review into workplace culture.

The review found the corporation did not have a toxic culture but there was a minority of people who behaved unacceptably and whose behaviour was not addressed.

Wallace, who was sacked from MasterChef last week, is not included in that count as he was not directly contracted by the corporation, but was employed by independent production company Banijay.

John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic:PA
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John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic: PA

The BBC has yet to decide if the unseen MasterChef series – filmed with both Wallace and Torode last year – will be aired or not.

‘We will make mistakes’

News of the findings in the Gregg Wallace report came on the same day it was revealed the BBC was deemed to have breached its editorial guidelines over a Gaza documentary that was narrated by the child of a Hamas official.

Media watchdog Ofcom subsequently launched its own investigation into Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, which was removed from BBC iPlayer in February.

While the 2024-25 annual report showed a small rise in trust overall for the corporation, Mr Davie said it had been a year which saw the reputation of the BBC damaged by “serious failings” in the making of the documentary.

He said it was important that the BBC “took full responsibility for those failings and apologised for them” and called the documentary “the most challenging editorial issue” he has dealt with.

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BBC under fire over Wallace and Gaza

Mr Davie said the BBC was “taking action to ensure proper accountability and we’re taking immediate steps to stop a failing like this being repeated”.

Despite a series of controversies in recent months – including livestreaming the controversial Bob Vylan set at Glastonbury, when the band led chants of “death to the IDF” – Mr Davie insisted he can “lead” the BBC in the right direction.

When asked if he would resign, he replied: “I simply think I’m in a place where I can work to improve dramatically the BBC and lead it in the right way.

“We will make mistakes, but I think as a leadership and myself, I’ve been very clear, and I think we have been decisive.”

BBC Director-General Tim Davie. Pic: PA
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BBC director-general Tim Davie. Pic: PA

After what he called a “tough period,” he said the job of director-general was not one to take on “if you want a quiet life or a stress-free existence”.

Mr Shah backed Mr Davie, saying he had shown “very strong leadership throughout all this period and he has my full support”.

The report showed that Mr Davie, who has been in the role since 2020, has had a 3.8% pay rise, with his salary going up from £527,000 last year to £547,000.

BBC’s top-earning stars revealed

The BBC annual report also revealed its on-screen top earners, which saw former Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker top the chart for the eighth year running.

The former Match Of The Day presenter, who left the BBC in May, earned £1.35m in 2024/25, according to the corporation’s annual report.

Last year’s BBC annual review was overshadowed by controversy over flagship show Strictly Come Dancing, while the year before saw disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards named the corporation’s highest-paid news anchor, despite having been suspended for nine months.

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BBC reveals highest-earning stars – as pay list published

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BBC reveals highest-earning stars - as pay list published

Gary Lineker has topped the list of the BBC’s highest-earning stars for the eighth year running.

The former Match Of The Day presenter, who left the BBC in May, earned £1.35m in 2024/25, according to the corporation’s annual report.

Presenter Zoe Ball was the second-highest paid, earning £517,000 for her work on the Radio 2 breakfast show, which she left in December last year.

Her replacement as breakfast show host Scott Mills was just outside the top 10 as the eleventh highest earner – with a salary of between £355,000 and £359,000.

Ball has since returned to a new Saturday afternoon show on Radio 2, which she began hosting in May.

Lineker’s former Match Of The Day colleague Alan Shearer was the third-highest earner, with a salary of between £440,000 and £444,999.

Exact salaries for Lineker and Ball are listed in the BBC’s annual report, but the pay of the rest of the on-air talent is listed in bands.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James was fourth on the list, while presenters Fiona Bruce and Nick Robinson were the joint fifth-highest earners.

The list does not include people who are paid through independent production companies or the BBC’s commercial arm BBC Studios.

Read more:
John Torode says claim he used racist language upheld
BBC gives update on MasterChef’s future
BBC broke editorial guidelines with Gaza documentary

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BBC reputation damaged by ‘serious errors’

The BBC’s annual report comes as the organisation has faced criticism for a series of failings.

They have included the airing of a controversial Bob Vylan set at Glastonbury – where the band led chants of “death to the IDF”, and claims of “inappropriate behaviour” by MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace.

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BBC under fire over Wallace and Gaza

Speaking after the publication of the report, BBC director-general Tim Davie said MasterChef can survive its current scandal as it is “much bigger than individuals”.

But he stressed that the corporation must “make sure we’re in the right place in terms of the culture of the show”.

They said several BBC staff members had been dismissed in the last three months, following an independent review into workplace culture.

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