Celebrity chef Michel Roux Jr has spoken out against the BBC after he left MasterChef following a row about his endorsement of Albert Bartlett potatoes.
In his first interview since leaving the programme in June, Roux slammed BBC bosses for being “hypocritical” and questioning his integrity.
Roux said that the BBC’s editorial guidelines are a “minefield” and claimed there are other presenters and television chefs who openly endorse products and who are allowed to get away with it.
“They were suggesting that, if for example we got to the final of MasterChef and there were two chefs that were cooking a dish, I would favour the one that used a certain variety of potatoes, because of my association with Bartlett’s. Now that is questioning my honour and my integrity,” Roux told Business Week magazine.
The BBC said Roux had decided to walk from the show after a “conflict of commercial interest”, and said that its restrictions apply when a product endorsement overlaps with a personality’s on-screen role.
The two Michelin-starred chef of Le Gavroche has been an ambassador for Albert Bartlett potatoes for over a decade, and most recently has appeared in a series of television adverts for the potato supplier.
In an exclusive interview with FPJ last year, Roux said over the years he has become friends with the Bartlett family. “They have great products and great values, so it’s a pleasure to work with them and be associated with the Bartlett name,” he said.
This week’s interview with Business Week coincided with the launch of MasterChef: The Professionals series seven, where Roux has been replaced by fellow chef Marcus Wareing.
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