“PLEASE, STOP – We’ve suffered ENOUGH” – Amid pressure and accusations, Lisa Faulkner, wife of John Torode, unexpectedly breaks her silence and shares a heart-wrenching confession!
Lisa Faulkner works alongside her husband John Torode (Image: Getty)
Lisa Faulkner and John Torode, who fell head over heels on Celebrity MasterChef 15 years ago, have since become darlings of British TV’s culinary scene. The couple exchanged vows in the stunning setting of Aynhoe Park in 2019, and there’s an undeniable charm about them that extends beyond their culinary prowess, winning the hearts of the nation. The ITV favourite, 53, opened up about her marriage to the former MasterChef presenter, 59, who was recently axed from his BBC role after claims he used a rac1al sl::r. Ahead of his departure from the Beeb, Lisa gave a frank admission about the couple’s marriage, which she branded the key to its success is having “banter”.
Lisa herself is bemused by their popularity, admitting with a chuckle: “I honestly have no idea about why there’s such interest,” and insists she avoids reading about their public image, saying, “I don’t read anything about us, I certainly don’t have Google alerts set up or anything.” She reflected on their connection with fans, musing, “The closest I’ve come to it is probably at food shows or when people stop us in the street and say, ‘Oh we love you two’, or that they love the shows. Maybe it’s because we genuinely have a lovely relationship? We have a bit of banter but it’s never sniping at each other. We’re just kind to each other, we get on and we look out for each other.”
Lisa Faulkner won Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 (Image: Getty)
Amidst a whirlwind of activity, Lisa juggles motherhood to her 18 year old daughter, a return to acting, and filming for ITV’s John And Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, not to mention working on spin-offs and cookery books.
The dynamic duo juggles their busy schedules with finesse, and Lisa reveals how they manage to strike a balance between work and leisure. “We have so much to do separately, and we film about 10 episodes of our show in nine days, so it’s not really that much time together!” she told the Mirror.
“We’re not in each other’s pockets, which I think would make our relationship very different. So, it’s really nice to actually catch up on holidays or when we’re working together.”
Lisa emphasises the significance of setting boundaries, particularly when it comes to culinary pursuits. “We cook together, which we really like, and obviously our sort of home office is the kitchen, where we’re constantly cooking, or writing recipes and coming up with ideas.”
She also stresses the importance of flexibility in their routine: “So sometimes there are nights when I think, ‘I don’t actually want to cook a recipe that I need to test tonight, I’m going to cook a spag bol.’ It’s about getting a balance.”
Lisa reflects on the ebb and flow of her career, saying, “In my job, it’s either feast or famine. But when I’ve got nothing on I’ve learnt to enjoy those times – cooking for the family, sitting in the garden, even doing the washing!”
It’s hard to believe that even Lisa, who celebrated her 53rd birthday earlier this year, could have predicted the myriad of opportunities that her victorious run on Celebrity MasterChef would bring, including finding her partner.
Lisa Faulkner and John Torode also appear on an ITV cooking show (Image: Getty)
Despite her relationship, she’s established herself as a true culinary expert, standing her ground at industry events alongside gastronomic giants like Michel Roux and Dame Mary Berry (and John, naturally). After the success of John And Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, which premiered in 2019, her initial passion for acting took a bit of a backseat.
However, that’s about to change, Lisa reveals with a smile.
“Acting makes my heart beat, it makes me so excited,” she shares. “I’m still manifesting a period drama. I did some acting last year, in Harlan Coben’s Missing You, and I absolutely loved it. I haven’t done a period piece for a very, very long time so that’s my bucket-list job.”
Lisa, who tragically lost her mother Julie to throat cancer during her teenage years, is also determined to maximise precious family moments with her 18 year old daughter Billie, whom Lisa and her former husband Chris Coghill adopted as an infant.