Gregg Wallace steps aside from Masterchef as host as allegations are investigated

Gregg Wallace is to step away from presenting MasterChef whereas allegations of historic misconduct are investigated, the present’s manufacturing firm has mentioned.

It comes after BBC Information despatched a letter to Wallace’s representatives on Tuesday setting out allegations of inappropriate sexual feedback by 13 individuals who labored with him throughout a spread of exhibits over a 17-year interval.

Broadcaster Kirsty Wark, who was a Movie star MasterChef contestant in 2011, mentioned he informed “sexualised” jokes throughout filming.

Wallace’s attorneys say it’s completely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. Masterchef’s manufacturing firm Banijay UK has launched an investigation and mentioned Wallace is co-operating.

In a video posted Instagram on Thursday night, Wallace mentioned: “I would really like thank all of the folks getting in contact, reaching out and displaying their assist.

“It is good of you – thanks very a lot.”

Wark, who’s finest identified for internet hosting BBC Newsnight, informed BBC Information that on two events, throughout early morning filming, Wallace informed tales and jokes of a “sexualised nature” in entrance of contestants and crew.

She mentioned she feels strongly that the feedback have been “actually, actually within the incorrect place”.

The presenter described her general expertise on the present as “joyous”, including that the crew and crew have been “implausible”. However she mentioned: “The fly within the ointment, every now and then, was Gregg Wallace.”

She added: “I feel folks have been uncomfortable. We have been primarily a captive viewers. Folks regarded embarrassed and simply bought on with their work.

“I used to be really extra offended than the rest, as a result of I assumed it was so inappropriate. And in a way what I assumed was it was about energy greater than the rest, that he felt he might.”

Different allegations we’ve heard embody Wallace speaking overtly about his intercourse life, taking his high off in entrance of a feminine employee saying he wished to “give her a vogue present”, and telling a junior feminine colleague he wasn’t sporting any boxer shorts below his denims.

BBC Information has additionally heard from a former MasterChef employee who says he confirmed her topless footage of himself and requested for massages, and a former employee on Channel 5’s Gregg Wallace’s Large Weekends, who says he was fascinated by the very fact she dated girls and requested for the logistics of the way it labored.

One other feminine employee on MasterChef in 2019 says Wallace talked about his intercourse life; a feminine employee on the BBC Good Meals Present in 2010 says Wallace stared at her chest; and a male employee on MasterChef in 2005-06 says Wallace often mentioned sexually specific issues on set.

Wallace declined an interview request from BBC Information.

In a video posted Instagram on Thursday night, Wallace mentioned: “I would really like thank all of the folks getting in contact, reaching out and displaying their assist.

“It is good of you – thanks very a lot.”

Writing on Instagram on Thursday, singer Sir Rod Stewart described Wallace as an “ill-mannered bully”, and mentioned the presenter “humiliated” his spouse when she was on Masterchef in 2021.

BBC Information has requested Wallace’s representatives for touch upon Sir Rod’s submit.

We’ve additionally discovered that Wallace was warned by the BBC after a grievance was raised about him in 2018 concerning the present Inconceivable Celebrities.

Two of the ladies who complained say Wallace talked overtly about his intercourse life to employees on the present, making them really feel uncomfortable.

One mentioned his sexual jokes have been “disgusting”, including that he would speak about how typically he was having intercourse, and the way he was a great lover.

After they complained, Wallace apologised they usually have been provided counselling.

A proper HR investigation came about and, within the final result letter, which we now have seen, the BBC concluded that “many points of [Wallace’s] behaviour have been each unacceptable and unprofessional”.

In a subsequent letter, which we now have additionally seen, a BBC government mentioned she had held a 90-minute assembly with Wallace to clarify “how severely the BBC takes this matter”. She additionally reassured the employees that motion could be taken “to forestall the same reoccurrence and to safeguard others sooner or later”.

However additional incidents have since emerged.

BBC Information, which is editorially impartial from the broader organisation, began investigating Wallace in the summertime, after turning into conscious of allegations. The claims we now have heard are throughout 5 exhibits, from 2005 to 2022.

Some employees have spoken of extra optimistic experiences with Wallace.

One former employee on Contained in the Manufacturing unit informed us he made a whole lot of “dad jokes” however it by no means went past that.

A former MasterChef employee mentioned nothing throughout her time there was regarding. One other mentioned she did not really feel there was any malice to his feedback, though she understood why some folks might have felt uncomfortable.

Saying its investigation on Thursday, Banijay UK mentioned in an announcement: “This week the BBC obtained complaints from people in relation to historic allegations of misconduct whereas working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one in every of our exhibits.”

Wallace, 60, is “dedicated to completely co-operating all through the method”, it added.

“While these complainants haven’t raised the allegations immediately with our present producers or guardian firm Banijay UK, we really feel that it’s applicable to conduct a direct, exterior evaluation to completely and impartially examine,” Banijay’s assertion continued.

“Whereas this evaluation is below means, Gregg Wallace might be stepping away from his position on MasterChef and is dedicated to completely co-operating all through the method.

“Banijay UK’s responsibility of care to employees is all the time a precedence and our expectations relating to behaviour are made clear to each forged and crew on all productions, with a number of methods of elevating considerations, together with anonymously, clearly promoted on set.

“While these are historic allegations, incidences delivered to our consideration the place these expectations should not met, are completely investigated and addressed appropriately.”

Banijay’s assertion concluded by encouraging anybody who wished to lift any points or considerations to come back ahead.

A BBC spokesman mentioned: “We take any points which are raised with us severely and we now have sturdy processes in place to cope with them.

“We’re all the time clear that any behaviour which falls beneath the requirements anticipated by the BBC won’t be tolerated.

“The place a person is contracted immediately by an exterior manufacturing firm we share any complaints or considerations with that firm and we’ll all the time assist them when addressing them.”

A spokesman for Channel 5, which airs Large Weekends, mentioned: “We take any allegations of this nature extraordinarily severely.

“We’ve requested the manufacturing firm to look into these historic claims. The well being and wellbeing of everybody concerned in our productions is essential to us and we wish all of our productions to be secure and safe locations for folks to work.”

Manufacturing firm Rumpus, which produces Large Weekends, mentioned: “We don’t tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions.

“Our complete responsibility of care processes have been in place throughout manufacturing of those collection and any issues raised would have been investigated in accordance with these.”

Episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals that includes Wallace which have already been recorded will transmit as deliberate, with the subsequent episode attributable to air on Thursday night.

Wallace has offered the favored BBC One cooking present alongside John Torode since 2005, in addition to its spin-offs Movie star MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.

Wallace was the unique presenter of the BBC present Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has additionally featured on Eat Nicely For Much less, Inside The Manufacturing unit, Flip Again Time, Harvest and Grocery store Secrets and techniques.

He took half in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014, and was recognised within the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022 for his companies to meals and charity.