Minister Nandy Addresses ‘Cultures of Silence’ Following Gregg Wallace Allegations

Lisa Nandy has asserted the prevalence of “too many cultures of silence” in the wake of allegations made against Gregg Wallace, a presenter for MasterChef. Addressing Members of Parliament on Tuesday, Nandy indicated her readiness “to take further action” should the media sector prove unable to tackle accusations of misconduct. Wallace ceased his presenting duties for MasterChef a fortnight ago, subsequent to a BBC News inquiry that brought to light allegations of inappropriate sexual remarks and conduct directed at him. Legal representatives for Wallace have vehemently refuted that he engages in behaviour constituting sexual harassment. During an appearance before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Nandy addressed recent concerns regarding conduct, specifically mentioning those related to Wallace. She stated: “Having spoken with the BBC in recent weeks about the Gregg Wallace allegations, I am really clear that we’re seeing too many of these cultures of silence and issues being swept under the rug.” This includes individuals who are unable to progress through the existing complaints framework due to the potential adverse effects on their professional trajectory, possibly leading to its termination. She further emphasized: “And I am clear that people need to be heard, action has to be taken and perpetrators have to be held to account.” The investigation gathered testimonies from 13 individuals spanning various age groups, who had been employed across five distinct productions. Among these individuals was broadcaster Kirsty Wark, who participated in Celebrity MasterChef. Nevertheless, the majority were production staff, with a significant number being freelancers. Nandy articulated a concern regarding the creative industries’ substantial dependence on freelance workers, stating: “It’s very casual employment contracts, people are often employed or promoted because of who they know, whether they’re liked or trusted, and you do get a lot of younger people coming into those industries, and there is an enormous power imbalance between the people who run those industries and the people who work in them.” She further noted that the Department of Business and Trade, alongside the deputy Prime Minister, is developing a strategy to “make work pay.” She elaborated: “They’re looking very closely at the use of things like unpaid internships which they’re intending to consult on, self-employed workers, zero-hours contracts, harassment.” Nandy additionally confirmed her scheduled meeting on Wednesday with the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA), an industry organization established to address bullying and harassment within the sector. She expressed alignment with their stance, asserting that it was “better that the industry grips this.” She then warned: “But if they don’t, I will be prepared to take further action.” Nandy further conveyed her “quite astonished” reaction upon reviewing the list of organizations providing financial support to CIISA, noting the absence of Banijay – the production company that employs Gregg Wallace and produces MasterChef. She declared: “I take quite a dim view of company executives that don’t take this seriously, and after I’ve had those discussions with CIISA I will write to the chair to update the committee on the work that we’re taking forward with them.” In response to the culture secretary’s remarks, Banijay UK informed BBC News that it “takes behavioural standards across the industry incredibly seriously.” The company added: “We have been supporting CIISA since its inception with multiple meetings at the highest level and we look forward to agreeing next steps.” The previous week, Wallace issued an apology for implying that the allegations against him originated from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.” He concluded his statement by saying: “It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope that you will accept this apology.” On Friday, executives at the BBC declared that they would not condone conduct that “falls below the standards we expect.” In a communication disseminated to staff by Tim Davie, the corporation’s director-general, and Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, they affirmed their support for Banijay UK’s investigation, adding: “It is critical that every part of the BBC upholds our values, including where companies are working with us.”