Masterchef's Gregg Wallace steps aside after allegations

Gregg Wallace is to step away from presenting MasterChef while allegations of historical misconduct are investigated, the show's production company has said.

It comes after BBC News sent a letter to Wallace’s representatives on Tuesday setting out allegations of inappropriate sexual comments by 13 people who worked with him across a range of shows over a 17-year period.

Broadcaster Kirsty Wark, who was a Celebrity MasterChef contestant in 2011, said he told "sexualised" jokes during filming.

Wallace's lawyers say it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. Masterchef's production company Banijay UK has launched an investigation and said Wallace is co-operating.

Wark, who is best known for hosting BBC Newsnight, told BBC News that on two occasions, during early morning filming, Wallace told stories and jokes of a "sexualised nature" in front of contestants and crew.

She said she feels strongly that the comments were "really, really in the wrong place".

The presenter described her overall experience on the show as "joyous", adding that the team and crew were "fantastic". But she said: "The fly in the ointment, on occasion, was Gregg Wallace."

She added: "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."

Other allegations we’ve heard include Wallace talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to "give her a fashion show", and telling a junior female colleague he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans.

BBC News has also heard from a former MasterChef worker who says he showed her topless pictures of himself and asked for massages, and a former worker on Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends, who says he was fascinated by the fact she dated women and asked for the logistics of how it worked.

Another female worker on MasterChef in 2019 says Wallace talked about his sex life; a female worker on the BBC Good Food Show in 2010 says Wallace stared at her chest; and a male worker on MasterChef in 2005-06 says Wallace regularly said sexually explicit things on set.

We have also found that Wallace was warned by the BBC after a complaint was raised about him in 2018 about the show Impossible Celebrities.

Two of the women who complained say Wallace talked openly about his sex life to staff on the show, making them feel uncomfortable.

One said his sexual jokes were "disgusting", adding that he would talk about how often he was having sex, and how he was a good lover.

After they complained, Wallace apologised and they were offered counselling.

A formal HR investigation took place and, in the outcome letter, which we have seen, the BBC concluded that "many aspects of [Wallace's] behaviour were both unacceptable and unprofessional".

In a subsequent letter, which we have also seen, a BBC executive said she had held a 90-minute meeting with Wallace to make clear "how seriously the BBC takes this matter". She also reassured the workers that action would be taken "to prevent a similar reoccurrence and to safeguard others in the future".

But further incidents have since emerged.

BBC News started investigating Wallace in the summer, after becoming aware of allegations. The claims we have heard are across five shows, from 2005 to 2022.

BBC News is editorially independent from the wider organisation.

Some workers have spoken of more positive experiences with Wallace.

One former worker on Inside the Factory told us he made a lot of "dad jokes" but it never went beyond that.

A former MasterChef worker said nothing during her time there was concerning. Another said she didn't feel there was any malice to his comments, although she understood why some people may have felt uncomfortable.

Announcing its investigation on Thursday, Banijay UK said in a statement: "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."

Wallace, 60, is "committed to fully co-operating throughout the process", it added.

"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," Banijay's statement continued.

"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 encouraging anyone who wanted to raise any issues or concerns to come forward.

A BBC spokesman 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."

Wallace declined an interview request from BBC News.

Episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace that have already been recorded will transmit as planned, with the next episode due to air on Thursday evening.

Wallace has presented the popular BBC One cooking show alongside John Torode since 2005, as well as its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.

Wallace was the original presenter of the BBC show Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has also featured on Eat Well For Less, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest and Supermarket Secrets.

He took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014, and was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2022 for his services to food and charity.