Gregg Wallace Responds to Misconduct Allegations, Citing ‘Handful’ of Accusers

Gregg Wallace has responded to accusations of past misconduct, asserting that these claims originated from a “handful of middle-class women of a certain age”. On Sunday morning, the MasterChef presenter stated in an Instagram video that “13 complaints” had been made by “over 4,000 contestants” with whom he had collaborated over two decades on the BBC One programme. He had previously withdrawn from his role earlier in the week following a BBC News inquiry that uncovered numerous allegations of inappropriate sexual remarks and conduct directed at him. The investigation gathered testimonies from 13 individuals of varying ages, who had been involved with five distinct programmes, among them broadcaster Kirsty Wark, a participant on Celebrity MasterChef. Wallace informed his audience of over 200,000 followers, “I’ve been doing MasterChef for 20 years – amateur, professional and Celebrity MasterChef – and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds, all walks of life.” He continued, “And apparently now, I’m reading in the paper, there’s been 13 complaints in that time.” Wallace added, “Now, in the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity MasterChef. This isn’t right.” He concluded his remarks by stating: “In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants on MasterChef, have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo – can you imagine?” Attorneys representing Wallace have vehemently refuted claims that he engages in sexually harassing conduct, concurrently, the BBC affirmed its commitment to “always listen if people want to make us aware of something directly”. In response to Wallace’s video, actress Emma Kennedy, who secured victory on Celebrity MasterChef in 2012 and asserts she reported his conduct at the time, commented that “it doesn’t matter what the age of any woman is”. She informed BBC News, “If you behave inappropriately, you behave inappropriately.” Kennedy further remarked, “It’s a story as old as the tides that people who have been accused of inappropriate behaviour turn the tables on those pointing it out and try and change the narrative.” She also stated: “Playing the ‘they’re having a go at me because I’m working class’ card is ridiculous.” TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp recounted on BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend an incident with Wallace from several years prior that caused her “so embarrassed”, after he “made a reference to something [he and his partner] did in bed”. She additionally characterized Wallace’s assertions on social media on Sunday as “unacceptable”, elaborating: “He is essentially saying this is a class issue and middle-class women don’t understand the type of things he says because he’s working-class.” Baroness Harriet Harman, in a post on X accompanying a link to a BBC News article about Wallace, observed that women now “feel able to challenge” inappropriate conduct from men. She specified that “older, middle class women [are] more able to challenge than freelance junior women”, and added: “It’s our duty.” This development occurs as the BBC confronts renewed scrutiny regarding its management of allegations against the 60-year-old, and his continued role as presenter of the cooking programme, following the revelation of emails indicating warnings about him in 2017. Radio host Aasmah Mir stated that she initially lodged a complaint with MasterChef’s production company Banijay in 2017, concerning inappropriate remarks Wallace had reportedly made during the show’s filming. It is understood that she subsequently escalated her complaint to the BBC. The Sunday Times reported that in an internal email, BBC executive Kate Phillips, currently leading unscripted programmes for the corporation, described his on-set behaviour as “unacceptable and cannot continue.” Phillips further stated that she would ensure she was “informed straight away” if additional allegations were brought against him. Mir subsequently dispatched an email, copied to Phillips, which read: “This must not happen again to another woman.” Certain allegations against Wallace detailed in the BBC News investigation pertain to incidents occurring after 2017. On Sunday, a BBC source remarked that “it would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us”. The source advised BBC News, “We continue to urge caution about pre-judging any of this, particularly the involvement of BBC staff members and any inference they have not acted appropriately.” Independently, the Observer reports that a letter detailing numerous claims of inappropriate conduct by Gregg Wallace was dispatched to the BBC in 2022, yet it did not prompt additional investigation at that juncture. On Thursday, Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef, announced that Wallace would temporarily cease presenting the programme during an investigation into allegations of historical misconduct. Banijay further stated that he is “committed to fully co-operating throughout the process”. This announcement followed BBC News sending a letter to Wallace’s representatives, outlining allegations gathered from 13 individuals, spanning a 17-year timeframe. Among these individuals was Ms Wark, a Celebrity MasterChef contestant in 2011, who reported that he made “sexualised” jokes during filming. Subsequently, additional individuals have presented allegations concerning the presenter. Wallace’s legal representatives have asserted that claims of him engaging in sexually harassing behaviour are entirely unfounded. On Saturday evening, Wallace posted on Instagram: “We are all different.” In conjunction with his Instagram statement on Sunday morning, he shared what appeared to be screenshots of supportive messages from individuals identifying as former contestants of the programme. In his video message, he was seen wearing a navy T-shirt bearing the Matt Hampson Foundation logo; however, the charity, dedicated to assisting individuals recovering from significant sports injuries, subsequently posted on X, stating, “we do not condone the kind of behaviour and comments contained in these allegations”. Responding to Wallace’s video, TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall remarked on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “I understand the instinct when you feel you’re backed in a corner, but I don’t think it’s smart to come out talking like that when at the moment he should probably be listening.” The BBC affirmed that it possesses “robust processes” to address concerns when they are brought forward. Earlier on Saturday, the producers of MasterChef disclosed their appointment of a “rigorous” law firm to spearhead an inquiry into Wallace’s alleged misconduct. Regarding the selection of London law firm Lewis Silkin, a Banijay UK spokesperson described it as a “highly experienced specialist investigations team which has overseen a broad range of high-profile workplace investigations”.