Gregg Wallace, famous for his role as a presenter on MasterChef, is to step away from his presenting duties while allegations of historical misconduct by individuals are investigated. The announcement came after the BBC received letters from 13 individuals, including broadcaster Kirsty Wark, outlining inappropriate sexual comments made by Wallace over a 17-year period of working together on various shows. Banijay UK, MasterChef’s production company, has launched an investigation into the matter, and Wallace’s lawyers have denied any allegations of sexually harassing behaviour, calling them entirely false.
According to Wark, the comments made by Wallace were of a “sexualised nature” and made during early morning filming in front of contestants and crew. Other allegations that have emerged include Wallace talking openly about his sex life and taking his top off in front of a female worker, claiming he wanted to “give her a fashion show”. The BBC has previously warned Wallace about his behaviour after a complaint was raised in 2018, but further incidents have since been uncovered.
Banijay UK has launched an immediate external review, and Wallace has pledged to “fully co-operate throughout the process”. Banijay UK, which prioritises its duty of care to staff, expects appropriate behaviour from both cast and crew, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. Banijay’s statement concluded by encouraging anyone who wanted to raise any issues or concerns to come forward.
Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will continue to be aired as planned, and he will still feature on previously recorded episodes of the show. Wallace has been involved in the cooking show alongside John Torode since 2005, having presented Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals spin-offs. Alongside his television appearances, Wallace has also been involved in various other shows such as Saturday Kitchen, Eat Well For Less, and Supermarket Secrets, and is known for his work in the food and charity sectors
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