Gregg Wallace steps down from MasterChef amid probe into misconduct claims

TV presenter Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef after the BBC received complaints from individuals about historical allegations of misconduct.

Wallace, 60, is “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process”, a statement from the show’s production company Banijay UK to the PA news agency said. The statement said: “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.

“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 underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process.

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“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.”

The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it “seriously” after it was announced Wallace will step away from his role on MasterChef while complaints made to the corporation from individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated.

A BBC spokesperson said: “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.”

Last month, it was reported that Wallace was investigated for making inappropriate remarks to a female BBC employee in 2018. It was claimed there were a series of "red flags" regarding Wallace's behaviour on the BBC game show Impossible Celebrities when he allegedly made "inappropriate sexual comments" towards a female staffer.

He allegedly boasted about his sex life and was accused of taking off his top in front of the woman who felt it was inappropriate. Wallace exited the BBC series Inside The Factory amid claims that he had behaved offensively towards workers and persisted in using disrespectful language, particularly towards female colleagues. The incident reportedly unfolded during an episode shot at the Nestle factory in York. A grievance concerning Wallace's behaviour was filed with production outfit Voltage TV.

Following the news of his alleged behaviour, Wallace took to Instagram to deny his comments were sexual. He said: "With reference to what's in the newspapers, these allegations were investigated by the BBC six years ago - and my comments were found to be not sexual. I repeat not sexual. Thank you for your time."

Wallace later added: "Something else that I feel very strongly about, strong enough to be on here, nobody six years ago or since has accused me of flirting with anybody or hitting on anybody. And that's important to me, and I say this for my wife Anna, who I've been true to and madly in love with since the day I met her.

"I don't want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that and I never have." A BBC spokesperson said at the time: “Whilst we do not comment on individuals, if issues are raised they are dealt with swiftly and appropriately at the time. We do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour and have robust processes in place.”

Lisa Faulkner, who is married to Wallace's MasterChef co-star John Torode, has claimed he would tell crude jokes behind-the-scenes. Appearing alongside John while promoting their latest book at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, Lisa was asked about her experience on the show in 2010.

She said: “Gregg was telling - I’m probably not allowed to say this. Gregg just told rude joke after rude joke to the crew. You’re just sitting there and if you’re on the front bench just chopping away thinking, ‘I’ve got ten minutes left,’ and he’s saying, ‘So this girl walked into a bar…’ And I’m going, ‘Please I don’t want to hear this joke’." However, John insisted: "It's changed quite a lot really."

Over the summer, Jermaine Jenas was sacked by the BBC following complaints about workplace conduct. He had presented the One Show as well as having appearances on Match of the Day.

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