I reported Gregg Wallace’s ‘groping’ to BBC 12 years ago – they knew then and known ever since, says Emma Kennedy

CELEBRITY MasterChef victor Emma Kennedy archetypal reported Gregg Wallace’s behaviour 12 years ago.

The writer yesterday revealed she complained successful 2012 aft witnessing his inappropriate behaviour towards a pistillate moving alongside the show.

In a almighty connection she said: “They knew then. They knew earlier past and they’ve known since.”

Emma besides said the PR squad who worked for MasterChef were alert of Wallace’s “problem” behaviour and disquieted it was lone a substance of clip earlier it became public.

The BBC present faces superior questions astir wherefore it took truthful agelong to act.

Emma wrote: “For the record, I complained astir behaviour I ­witnessed connected MasterChef successful 2012. They knew then. They knew earlier past and they’ve known since.

“I was successful a workplace for a circular of photographs to beryllium taken of finalists that year. The lensman had a young pistillate assistant.

“At 1 constituent she bent implicit to woody with instrumentality and GW took this arsenic an accidental to consciousness her arse. I told him it was inappropriate, I informed production.

“Later, aft we had finished that series, we each went to the Good Food show. I had a lengthy speech with a subordinate of the PR squad connected MC and the lone taxable of speech was ‘when the occupation with GW was going to travel to light’. This was successful 2012.”

Emma, 57, won the seventh bid of the personage amusement with a paper of cookware fried turbot and poached meringue successful creme anglaise.

At the time, she described her triumph arsenic “up determination successful 1 of the all-time beingness achievements”.

Wallace hailed her cookery skills, saying she produced dishes “that are arsenic bully arsenic galore professionals — she is unbelievable”.

Emma yesterday said she had nary occupation with chap MasterChef presenter John Torode, describing him arsenic “absolutely lovely”.

Her comments sparked different claims astir Wallace’s behaviour.

One pistillate wrote: “I was a contestant successful 2009. Ever since, erstwhile a communicative would interruption astir an unnamed BBC presenter who was being investigated for misconduct, I expected it to beryllium him.”

Another said: “2018 contestant and yeah, erstwhile I came location I told my hubby astir the connection and antics going connected down the scenes. So not appropriate.”

A 3rd pistillate tweeted: “I was a contestant successful 2014, the full clip he’d speech loudly astir however helium needed to commercialized successful his woman for a younger model. Gross.”

Another woman, who met Wallace astatine an awards ceremonial successful 2011, wrote: “Told him I loved the show, to which helium reacted by telling immoderate feline what they could bash to me. I was successful specified shock.

“I was disgusted and got retired of determination immediately. Sounds similar I wasn’t alone. I’ve ne'er been capable to ticker his shows without seeing his creepy smirk astatine his mate.”

And a antheral who met Wallace astatine an lawsuit successful 2012 wrote: “I’ve refused to ticker MC whilst he’s connected it — witnessed his behaviour astatine an lawsuit helium was a impermanent at. Appalling ­example of however ‘the system’ tends to support predators and tries to discredit those that acquisition it — and that needs to change.”

When contacted by The Sun astir Emma’s allegations, a BBC spokesperson directed enquiries to accumulation institution Banijay, which makes MasterChef.

The Beeb antecedently said: “We are ever wide immoderate behaviour which falls beneath the standards expected by the BBC volition not beryllium tolerated.”

On Thursday Banijay said: “Our expectations regarding behaviour are made wide to some formed and unit connected each productions.”

And a No10 spokesperson said: “It’s close a thorough probe is conducted.”