MasterChef’s John Torode and Gregg Wallace reveal why they haven’t hung out off-screen in 17 years
MASTERCHEF judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace are "not as friendly off screen" and have never been to each other's houses.
The judges on the long-ruining cooking series - who have appeared on the BBC show since 2005 - have a "calm" relationship, but John revealed the pals have "never really cooked for each other."
The 55-year-old opened up on the his relationship with his co-presenter, which exists primarily during the confines of work.
He joked: "I had to wait until his fourth wedding before I got invited to be his best man.
"It's well documented that we don't socialise outside of work. We've never been to each other's houses. We've never really cooked for each other."
Torode added: "We spend a lot of time together, sharing a lot of things: emotion, food, pressure and changing people's lives. 17 years on, it's still a relationship that is calm and in good stead. I think it's an amazing thing."
Over the years the duo have bonded over their passion for preparing delicious meals and Gregg, 56, admitted there is "no ego clash" between him and John.
He said: "We trust each other completely. We feel safe with each other. We know that the other one isn't going to - on camera, anyway - ridicule the other one.
"We don't fight for space. We don't fight for time. There is no ego clash.
"People are really interested in my relationship with John."
The chef continued: "I think because we're so friendly on screen, they find it really difficult to understand why we're not as friendly off screen."
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However, Gregg admitted it has become "a bit of a ritual" for the pair to enjoy lunch together when they are away on location overseas.
Speaking to the Radio Times magazine, he added: "It's just me and him. We buy a nice bottle of wine and we can chat about anything."
The kings of the kitchen will return to our screens with a brand new series of MasterChef in March and John revealed he puts on a stone whenever he films the show.
The celebrity chef admitted: “Doing MasterChef I always put weight on and I can’t change that.
“Because, you know, we eat so much food. And then when I’m not filming I don’t eat as much because I’m not filming. I put on a stone. I put on a stone, on average, probably."
The new series of MasterChef begins March, 1, 9pm on BBC1
