Gregg Wallace Steps Down from MasterChef Amid Misconduct Allegations

Gregg Wallace will temporarily cease his presenting duties for MasterChef as a production company investigates claims of past misconduct, according to the company. This development follows a letter sent by BBC News to Wallace’s representatives on Tuesday, detailing accusations of inappropriate sexual remarks made by 13 individuals who collaborated with him on different programs spanning 17 years. Kirsty Wark, a broadcaster and participant on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, stated that Wallace made “sexualised” jokes during production. Wallace’s legal representatives assert that any claim of him engaging in sexually harassing conduct is “entirely false.” Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef, has initiated an inquiry and confirmed Wallace’s cooperation. In a video shared on Instagram on Thursday evening, Wallace expressed: “I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support. It’s good of you – thank you very much.” Wark, widely recognized for presenting BBC Newsnight, informed BBC News that Wallace recounted stories and jokes of a “sexualised nature” on two separate occasions during early morning filming, in the presence of both contestants and crew. She conveyed her strong conviction that these remarks were “really, really in the wrong place.” The presenter characterized her general experience on the program as “joyous,” further noting that the team and crew were “fantastic.” However, she remarked: “The fly in the ointment, on occasion, was Gregg Wallace.” She further stated: “I think people were uncomfortable. We were essentially a captive audience. People looked embarrassed and just got on with their work. I was actually more angry than anything else, because I thought it was so inappropriate. And in a sense what I thought was it was about power more than anything else, that he felt he could.” Wark indicates she brought the matter to an executive at the production company Shine. She recounts that the essence of the response was, “it was almost as if it was some kind of affliction,” and added: “And if his behaviour became too egregious, he’d be pulled back.” BBC News has sought a statement from Shine. Additional allegations reported include Wallace discussing his sex life openly, removing his shirt in front of a female employee while stating he wished to “give her a fashion show,” and informing a junior female colleague that he was not wearing boxer shorts beneath his jeans. BBC News has also received accounts from a former MasterChef employee who claims Wallace displayed topless photographs of himself to her and requested massages, as well as from a former worker on Channel 5’s Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends, who stated he expressed fascination with her dating women and inquired about the practicalities of such relationships. A different female employee on MasterChef in 2019 reported that Wallace discussed his sex life; a female worker on the BBC Good Food Show in 2010 alleged Wallace stared at her chest; and a male worker on MasterChef from 2005-06 claimed Wallace frequently uttered sexually explicit remarks on set. Wallace chose not to accept an interview request from BBC News. On Thursday, singer Sir Rod Stewart posted on Instagram, characterizing Wallace as an “ill-mannered bully” and asserting that the presenter “humiliated” his wife during her appearance on MasterChef in 2021. BBC News has sought a response from Wallace’s representatives regarding Sir Rod’s statement. It has also been discovered that the BBC issued a warning to Wallace in 2018 following a complaint concerning him regarding the program Impossible Celebrities. Two of the women who lodged complaints stated that Wallace openly discussed his sex life with staff on the show, causing them discomfort. One individual described his sexual jokes as “disgusting,” further mentioning that he would speak about the frequency of his sexual activity and his prowess as a lover. Following their complaints, Wallace issued an apology, and the individuals were provided with counselling. A formal HR investigation was conducted, and the BBC, in the outcome letter that has been reviewed, determined that “many aspects of [Wallace’s] behaviour were both unacceptable and unprofessional.” In a subsequent letter, also reviewed by BBC News, a BBC executive confirmed she had conducted a 90-minute meeting with Wallace to emphasize “how seriously the BBC takes this matter.” She also assured the employees that measures would be implemented “to prevent a similar reoccurrence and to safeguard others in the future.” Nevertheless, additional incidents have come to light since then. BBC News, operating with editorial independence from the broader organization, initiated an investigation into Wallace during the summer, subsequent to becoming aware of the allegations. The claims received span five different programs, dating from 2005 to 2022. Some employees have recounted more favorable interactions with Wallace. A former worker on Inside the Factory informed us that he frequently made “dad jokes” but that his behavior did not escalate further. A former MasterChef employee stated that she encountered nothing troubling during her tenure. Another individual expressed that she perceived no malice in his remarks, though she acknowledged why some might have experienced discomfort. In its announcement of the investigation on Thursday, Banijay UK released a statement saying: “This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.” The statement further noted that Wallace, aged 60, is “committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.” Banijay’s statement proceeded: “Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.” “While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.” “Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.” “Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.” Banijay’s statement concluded by urging anyone with issues or concerns to report them. A spokesperson for the BBC commented: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.” “We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.” “Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.” A spokesperson for Channel 5, the broadcaster of Big Weekends, stated: “We take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously. We have asked the production company to look into these historical claims. The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in our productions is very important to us and we want all of our productions to be safe and secure places for people to work.” Rumpus, the production company responsible for Big Weekends, affirmed: “We do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions. Our comprehensive duty of care processes were in place during production of these series and any matters raised would have been investigated in accordance with these.” Previously recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace are scheduled to broadcast as planned, with the subsequent episode set for Thursday evening. Wallace has co-presented the well-known BBC One culinary program with John Torode since 2005, in addition to its spin-off series, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals. Wallace served as the initial presenter for the BBC program Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has also appeared on Eat Well For Less, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest, and Supermarket Secrets. He participated in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 and received recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022 for his contributions to food and charitable causes.