TV presenter Gregg Wallace has sparked controversy with his response to allegations of historical misconduct, after stepping aside from MasterChef following a BBC News investigation into inappropriate behavior.
In an Instagram video, Wallace claimed there have been only 13 complaints from over 4,000 contestants he’s worked with in 20 years. He specifically criticized what he described as “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” making complaints, suggesting the allegations were rooted in classism.
However, his accusers strongly rejected his characterization. One accuser, using the pseudonym Anna, said Wallace “clearly hasn’t learnt his lesson” and suggested he should “reflect on and take some accountability for how he abused his position of power.”
Another accuser, James, argued that Wallace’s humor isn’t simply a misunderstanding of working-class communication, but a deliberate attempt to “test boundaries” and make people uncomfortable, particularly women.
The BBC News investigation heard from 13 people across five different shows, spanning a 17-year period. Notable complainants include broadcaster Kirsty Wark, who said Wallace told “sexualized” jokes during filming, and radio host Aasmah Mir, who complained about inappropriate comments in 2017.
Internal BBC communications reveal that executive Kate Phillips previously described Wallace’s on-set behavior as “unacceptable and cannot continue.” In 2018, a BBC probe found his behavior on another show, Impossible Celebrities, was “unacceptable and unprofessional,” resulting in a 90-minute discussion with Phillips.
The Observer reports that a letter containing multiple claims of inappropriate behavior was sent to the BBC in 2022 but did not result in further investigation at the time.
Public figures have also spoken out. TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp shared a personal encounter that left her “so embarrassed” and criticized Wallace’s class-based defense, calling his comments “unacceptable.”
Actress Emma Kennedy, a Celebrity MasterChef winner, directly challenged Wallace’s narrative, stating that “it doesn’t matter what the age of any woman is” and calling his class argument “ridiculous.”
On Thursday, Banijay UK announced Wallace would step away from presenting MasterChef while allegations are investigated. The production company has appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to conduct a “rigorous” investigation into the misconduct claims.
Wallace’s lawyers have strongly denied allegations of sexual harassment, and he has shared screenshots of supportive messages from former contestants.
The BBC has maintained that they “will always listen if people want to make us aware of something directly” and urged caution about pre-judging the situation.
The ongoing controversy raises significant questions about workplace behavior, power dynamics, and how entertainment industry complaints are handled and investigated.
