Wallace has recently stepped away from hosting the cooking show, following an investigation by the BBC following complaints ‘in relation to historical allegations of misconduct’ with those that have worked with presenter Gregg Wallace on ‘one of our shows’, say MasterChef‘s producer Banijay.
“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.”
They added that incidences have been ‘brought to our attention’ which are being ‘thoroughly investigated’, while a BBC spokesperson told PA: “We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.”
The announcement was swiftly followed by a BBC News report that detailed allegations from 13 people claiming Wallace had made sexual comments, including a broadcaster.
Wallace is currently under investigation following some allegations brought against his behaviour on shows (Andrew Matthews – Pool/Getty Images)
The accusations spanned 17 years and the alleged incidents were said to have occurred across a number of shows.
Newsnight host Kirsty Wark was among those making allegations against Wallace, saying he told stories and jokes of a ‘sexualised nature’ that were ‘really, really in the wrong place’.
She added: “I think people were uncomfortable. We were essentially a captive audience. People looked embarrassed and just got on with their work.”
Following these allegations, people were curious to see what MasterChef co-host John Torode had to say.
Torode has presented the popular BBC programme with Wallace since 2005, and they are known as one of British TV’s most famous duos.
Though they may film in all corners of the world, it turns out that they aren’t the best friends when the cameras stop rolling, according to an interview in the Sunday Mirror back in 2017.
Speaking to the publication seven years ago, the Australian chef revealed: “We’ve never been friends.”
The pair aren’t as close as we thought (BBC)
Torode went on, saying that his colleague was ‘so OCD’, fully explaining: “It’s funny, we’ve never been friends. We’ve not been to each other’s houses…
“He’s so OCD, he wouldn’t know what to do. He’d build it up in his mind for three days, and probably make himself quite sick, then he’d have an argument with his wife and not turn up.
“If I went to his house, he would feel like he wasn’t in control.”
Just last month, Wallace responded to reports about an investigation by the BBC which found he could continue to work for the company after an alleged incident in 2018 on Impossible Celebrities.
He stated at the time: “The story that’s hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC.
“The outcome of that was that I hadn’t said anything sexual. I’ll need to repeat this again. I didn’t say anything sexual.”
Wallace has presented food-based TV shows for over 20 years, first appearing as a host on Saturday Kitchen in 2002.
Sharing a brief statement on Instagram in response to the allegations, Wallace said in a video: I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support.
“That’s good of you. Thank you very much.”
LADbible has reached out to John Torode’s representatives for comment. LADbible Group has previously contacted Gregg Wallace’s representatives regarding the allegations.
Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: BBC, TV, TV and Film
Joshua Nair
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breaking
Gregg Wallace to step away from MasterChef after 19 years due to investigation
The host is set to step away
Gregg Wallace is set to step away from MasterChef due to an investigation.
Wallace was a co-presenter on the cooking show for 19 years.
Masterchef’s producer Banijay released the following 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.
“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.
Wallace was well known for his time on Masterchef (Dave Bennett via Getty Images)
“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.
“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 statement added: “If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.”
Wallace will step back from presenting duties (David M Benett via Getty Images)
A BBC spokesperson told PA: “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 Wallace responded to an investigation by the BBC which found he could continue to work for the company after an alleged incident in 2018 on Impossible Celebrities.
At the time he said: “The story that’s hitting the newspapers was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC.
“The outcome of that was that I hadn’t said anything sexual. I’ll need to repeat this again. I didn’t say anything sexual.”
Wallace has presented food-based TV shows for over 20 years, first appearing as a host on Saturday Kitchen in 2002.
He has been the co-presenter of MasterChef since 2005 alongside John Torode.
LADbible Group has contacted representatives for Gregg Wallace for comment.
Featured Image Credit: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Just Eat Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images
Topics: BBC, TV, TV and Film
Michael Slavin
BBC clarifies if new Gregg Wallace MasterChef episodes will air after sexual comment allegations made and he quits show
The BBC has responded to the recent allegations
The BBC has responded to whether or not new MasterChef episodes featuring Gregg Wallace are set to air.
This comes after the co-host was announced to be leaving the show after 19 years following allegations that he made inappropriate sexual comments in previous series.
13 people have reportedly made allegations against the presenter, including BBC’s Kirsty Wark.
The BBC released the following statement to PA after the production company behind MasterChef, Banijay UK, announced he would be leaving the show: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
The MasterChef co-host will leave the show after 19 years (BBC)
“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.”
Many will be questioning whether, in light of the severity of the allegations, MasterChef will continue to air as normal.
The next episode of the current season is scheduled to air at 8pm tonight (November 28).
A spokesperson for the BBC confirmed that this was still the case despite the allegations, saying: “All recorded episodes will TX (broadcast) as planned.”
Wallace presented alongside co-host John Torode (SOPA Images via Getty Images)
The news is sure to be a shock to viewers, who will be tuning into the show knowing that the episodes airing will be Wallace’s last after 19 years.
Bainjay UK released the following statement in which they announced the departure of Wallace, who joined the show in 2005: “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.
The presenter’s last MasterChef episodes will air as normal (Ben A Prunchie via Getty Images)
“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 statement added: “If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.”
LADbible Group has contacted representatives for Gregg Wallace for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Ben A Prunchie via Getty Images / BBC
Topics: BBC, TV, Entertainment, Celebrity, TV and Film
Michael Slavin
Gregg Wallace interaction with Penny Lancaster resurfaces as Rod Stewart accuses MasterChef host of bullying wife
The MasterChef host has stepped down amid an ongoing investigation into historical misconduct
Gregg Wallace’s MasterChef interaction with former contestant Penny Lancaster has resurfaced following the host stepping away from the show due to an ongoing investigation.
Earlier today (28 November) it was announced that Wallace, 60, would be stepping away from the BBC cooking programme after 19 years at the helm due to a review into allegations of historical misconduct.
Musician Rod Stewart has since shared a scathing reaction to the news on social media, calling Wallace a ‘tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully’ and accusing him of humiliating his wife Lancaster while she was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef.
“So Greg [sic] Wallace gets fired from Master Chef,” Stewart wrote on Instagram.
He continued: “Good riddance Wallace… You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you?
“You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart.”
Following Stewart’s statement curious viewers have since delved into Lancaster’s time on the programme, which saw her booted out of the competition during the quarter finals back in 2021.
Gregg Wallace has stepped aside from MasterChef (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
In one resurfaced clip, Wallace can be seen questioning the presenter on what the cooking arrangements are like between her and Stewart at home.
“Who cooks at home?” Wallace asks, to which Lancaster responded by explaining how Stewart had originally had a personal chef when they first got together, which meant there ‘wasn’t much need for me in the kitchen’. The admission left Wallace surprised, as the host can be seen raising his eyebrows in shock at the comment.
In another tense moment, Lancaster was struggling for time while battling it out for a place in the semi-final, which meant her butternut squash ravioli was served late to the judges.
Penny Lancaster was elimiated during the quarter finals (BBC)
“Mate, we can’t be 10 minutes late,” Wallace told Lancaster (via Metro) as she scrambled to finish off her dish, calling the delay ‘serious’.
Following Lancaster’s elimination, the Loose Women panelist admitted she felt ‘quite deflated’ to be leaving.
Confirming Wallace’s departure in a statement earlier today, production company Banijay UK 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.
“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 statement added: “If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.”
LADbible Group has contacted representatives for the BBC and Gregg Wallace for comment. Banijay UK has declined to comment further.
Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: BBC, TV, Entertainment
Brenna Cooper
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breaking
BBC’s Kirsty Wark and 12 others allege MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace made inappropriate sexual comments as he leaves show
Gregg Wallace has stepped away while allegations of historical misconduct by individuals are investigated, the BBC has said
MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace has been alleged to have made sexual comments by BBC’s Kirsty Wark and 12 others as he leaves the show after 19 years.
The BBC received complaints regarding the conduct of the MasterChef star, and released the following statement to PA: “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 left the show after 19 years (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Just Eat)
After breaking the news that Wallace would be leaving the show, the BBC added a note to their article saying: “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.”
Kirsty Wark appeared alongside Wallace on the celebrity iteration of the show, which he also co-presented.
The producer of MasterChef released a statement announcing co-presenter Wallace would be stepping back from the show.
The statement read: “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.
Kirsty Wark is among those to have alleged inappropriate conduct from Wallace (Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage)
“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.
“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 statement added: “If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakup@banijayuk.com in confidence.”
