BBC pulls MasterChef Christmas specials amid Gregg misconduct probe
Summer Raemason, News Reporter
Published: 13:23, 3 Dec 2024Updated: 13:27, 3 Dec 2024
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BBC bosses have pulled MasterChef specials featuring Gregg Wallace amid his misconduct probe.
It comes after fury was sparked after the Beeb refused to pull MasterChef Christmas specials off the air as six more alleged victims emerged.
Wallace stepped down from the show last week
2
Wallace stepped down from the show last weekCredit: BBC
BBC bosses have pulled MasterChef specials featuring Gregg Wallace amid his misconduct probe
2
BBC bosses have pulled MasterChef specials featuring Gregg Wallace amid his misconduct probeCredit: BBC
The presenter, 60, yesterday apologised for crass comments about "middle class women of a certain age" after mounting backlash.
The BBC previously justified airing the semi-final of MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC One because it was “life-changing” for the competitors.
But the move sparked criticism as some said that does not apply to festive specials featuring celebrities.
Wallace, under investigation by MasterChef producers Banijay UK, is scheduled to appear on the BBC several times this Christmas.
It comes as a former MasterChef staffer — who worked on the show from 2007 to 2010 — told The Sun she knew of at least six production members who raised concerns about Wallace’s conduct.
They said: “I heard from five female colleagues that they had issues with Gregg, including comments he made which weren’t appropriate for a workplace.
"There was a male staffer too who raised an issue about the language Gregg used when speaking to him.
“Nothing ever seemed to be done to properly address it.
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“It was like the worst-kept secret in the TV industry.”
Wallace stepped down from the show last week after multiple complaints emerged.
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Wallace faces allegations from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period — with others coming forward since the scandal broke last Thursday.
The host has denied any behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
His lawyers say “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
He has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker, saying he wanted to “give her a fashion show”, and talking about his sex life to others.
He also allegedly told one female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans.
MasterChef production company, Banijay UK, said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
The BBC said it would not be inappropriate to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay’s investigation.
It emerged this week Celebrity MasterChef 2012 winner Emma Kennedy said she reported Wallace’s behaviour to a member of the production team but did not know if it was taken any further.
Georgia Harding, a MasterChef producer from 2014-15, said she also raised concerns about his behaviour but nothing was done.
Then in 2017, radio broadcaster Aasmah Mir went on the celebrity version and sent an email to Kate Phillips, now head of unscripted TV for the BBC, about Wallace’s inappropriate comments.
And the following year, Wallace was reportedly issued with a formal warning by the BBC following an HR probe.
In 2022, director and producer Dawn Elrick said she sent a letter to the corporation with a number of anonymised accounts from people alleging Wallace acted inappropriately.
The Sun on Sunday also told how a Nestlé executive had written to the BBC with concerns about Wallace’s behaviour while filming a 2023 episode of Inside The Factory.
One witness claimed the former green grocer, 60, walked into the studio naked apart from a "sock over his penis" then did a dance.
They also said he mimed a sex act as a worker knelt to clean his trousers.
In response to reports in the Times and Telegraph, a BBC source said: “While we are not going to comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, particularly when there is an ongoing process in place being run by Banijay who have the direct contractual relationship with Gregg Wallace.
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“It would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us – not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken.
“We continue to urge caution about pre-judging any of this, particularly the involvement of BBC staff members and any inference they have not acted appropriately.”
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