Gregg Wallace stepping away from MasterChef amid external review

Gregg Wallace is to measurement distant from presenting BBC cooking amusement MasterChef portion complaints made by individuals astir humanities allegations of misconduct are externally reviewed.

It comes arsenic the 60-year-old faces allegations of inappropriate intersexual comments from 13 radical crossed a scope of shows implicit a 17-year period, arsenic reported by BBC News which said it sent a missive to the TV star’s representatives earlier this week.

Wark told the outlet that connected 2 occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a “sexualised nature” successful beforehand of contestants and unit and that she felt they were “really, truly successful the incorrect place”.

BBC News said it had been told of different allegations, including the presenter “talking openly astir his enactment life, taking his apical disconnected successful beforehand of a pistillate idiosyncratic saying helium wanted to ‘give her a manner show’, and telling a inferior pistillate workfellow helium was not wearing immoderate boxer shorts nether his jeans”.

The TV star’s lawyers accidental “it is wholly mendacious that helium engages successful behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, BBC News reported.

Earlier connected Thursday, it was announced that Wallace is “committed to afloat co-operating” with an outer reappraisal by MasterChef’s accumulation company, Banijay UK.

While this reappraisal is nether way, Gregg Wallace volition beryllium stepping distant from his relation connected MasterChef and is committed to afloat co-operating passim the process

Banijay UK

A connection said: “This week the BBC received complaints from individuals successful narration to humanities allegations of misconduct portion moving with presenter Gregg Wallace connected 1 of our shows.

“Whilst these complainants person not raised the allegations straight with our amusement producers oregon genitor institution Banijay UK, we consciousness that it is due to behaviour an immediate, outer reappraisal to afloat and impartially investigate.

“While this reappraisal is nether way, Gregg Wallace volition beryllium stepping distant from his relation connected MasterChef and is committed to afloat co-operating passim the process.

“Banijay UK’s work of attraction to unit is ever a precedence and our expectations regarding behaviour are made wide to some formed and unit connected each productions, with aggregate ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, intelligibly promoted connected set.

“Whilst these are humanities allegations, incidences brought to our attraction wherever these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”

The connection added: “If anyone would similar to speech to america oregon rise immoderate issues oregon concerns, past they tin interaction speakup@banijayuk.com successful confidence.”

Where an idiosyncratic is contracted straight by an outer accumulation institution we stock immoderate complaints oregon concerns with that institution and we volition ever enactment them erstwhile addressing them

BBC spokesperson

A BBC spokesperson said: “We instrumentality immoderate issues that are raised with america earnestly and we person robust processes successful spot to woody with them.

“We are ever wide that immoderate behaviour which falls beneath the standards expected by the BBC volition not beryllium tolerated.

“Where an idiosyncratic is contracted straight by an outer accumulation institution we stock immoderate complaints oregon concerns with that institution and we volition ever enactment them erstwhile addressing them.”

Wallace is champion known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005, arsenic good arsenic its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.

Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace volition transmit arsenic planned, with the adjacent occurrence owed to aerial connected Thursday, the PA quality bureau understands.

Wallace was the archetypal presenter of the BBC amusement Saturday Kitchen successful 2002 and has besides featured connected Eat Well For Less, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest, and Supermarket Secrets.

He was made an MBE successful the Queen’s Birthday Honours successful 2022 for his services to nutrient and charity.

Wallace took portion successful Strictly Come Dancing successful 2014 and was partnered with Aliona Vilani.

He has 2 children, Tom and Libby, from a erstwhile relationship. He joined Anne-Marie Sterpini successful 2016 and the mates person a lad called Sid.