Gregg Wallace is stepping away from presenting MasterChef while allegations of historical misconduct are investigated, the show's production company said.
It comes after BBC News sent a letter to Wallace's representatives on Tuesday alleging inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people who worked with him on a series of shows over a 17-year period.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark, who took part in Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, said he told 'sexualised' jokes during filming.
Wallace's attorneys say it is completely false that he engaged in conduct of a sexually harassing nature. Masterchef's production company Banijay UK has launched an investigation and says Wallace is cooperating.
Wark, who is best known as a presenter of BBC Newsnight, told BBC News that Wallace twice told stories and jokes of a “sexualised nature” in front of the participants and crew during early morning filming.
She said she strongly believes the comments were “really, really in the wrong place.”
Other allegations we've heard include Wallace talking openly about his sex life, taking off his top in front of a female employee and saying he wanted to “give her a fashion show,” and telling a younger female colleague that he wasn't a boxer wore. shorts under his jeans.
BBC News has also heard from a former MasterChef employee who says he showed her topless pictures of himself and asked for massages, and from a former Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends employee who says he was fascinated by the fact that she dated women and asked for the logistics. of how it worked.
'Unacceptable and unprofessional'
We also discovered that Wallace was warned by the BBC after a complaint was made about him on the show Impossible Celebrities in 2018.
A formal HR investigation took place and in the outcome letter, which we have seen, the BBC concluded that “many aspects of [Wallace’s] behavior was 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 is taking this matter”. She also assured workers that action would be taken “to prevent a similar recurrence and protect others in the future”.
But more incidents have occurred since then.
BBC News began investigating Wallace in the summer after he became aware of the allegations. The claims we've heard span five shows, from 2005 to 2022.
BBC News is editorially independent of the wider organisation.
Announcing its investigation on Thursday, Banijay UK said in a statement: “This week the BBC has received complaints from individuals regarding historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.”
Wallace, 60, is “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process,” it added.
Immediate external assessment
“While these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we believe it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to conduct a full and impartial investigation,” continued Banijay's statement.
“While this review is ongoing, Gregg Wallace will step back from his role on MasterChef and commit to fully co-operating throughout the process.
“Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behavior are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways to raise concerns, including anonymously, and clearly promoted on the set.
“While these are historic allegations, incidents brought to our attention where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
Banijay's statement ended by encouraging anyone who wanted to raise issues or concerns to come forward.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We take all issues brought to us seriously and we have robust processes in place to address them.
“We have always been clear that behavior that does not meet the standards the BBC expects will not be tolerated.
“Where an individual is contracted directly by a third party manufacturing company, we will share any complaints or concerns with that company and will always support them in addressing them.”
Episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals with Wallace that have already been recorded will air as scheduled, with the next episode airing on Thursday evening.
Wallace has co-presented the hit BBC One cooking show with John Torode since 2005, as well as the spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.
Wallace was the original presenter of the BBC show Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has also appeared 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 recognized in the Queen's Birthday Honors in 2022 for his services to food and charity.
