BBC MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace stepped down from the presenting role while allegations of him making a series inappropriate sexual remarks are investigated.
Kirsty Warsk, a former Newsnight host, is one of 13 people who has accused Wallace of making inappropriate sexual remarks.
Banijay UK, the production company of MasterChef, is investigating Wallace. Wark, a former celebrity contestant of MasterChef 2011, said that Wallace had used “sexualized language” in an interview with BBC.
She said: “On two occasions, he used sexualised words in front of many people. It wasn’t like anyone was involved.” The traffic was one-way. “I think that people were uncomfortable, and it was something I didn’t anticipate happening.”
Banijay UK stated that Wallace, 60 years old and a chef who has been working on the show since 2005 was “committed” to cooperating fully throughout the entire process.
The company stated that even though the complainants did not directly raise the allegations with MasterChef’s Producers, they felt it “appropriate” to conduct an external review immediately to thoroughly and impartially investigate.
The company said that it always prioritized its duty of care towards its staff and made its expectations about behaviour clear to cast and crew for all productions. On set, multiple ways to raise concerns were clearly advertised, including anonymously.
It said: “While these are historical claims, incidents brought to our notice where these expectations aren’t met are thoroughly investigated, and treated appropriately.”
BBC spokesperson said: “Where a person is directly contracted by an external production firm, we share any concerns or complaints with that company. We will always support this company when they address them.”
Wallace’s response to the reports last month was that an earlier BBC review found he can continue working for the corporation despite reports of a alleged incident from 2018 when he appeared in Impossible Celebrities.
Wallace claimed that the claims were investigated “promptly”, and that he did not say “anything sexual” on the game show.
BBC confirmed that recorded episodes of MasterChef The Professionals featuring Wallace would be broadcast as planned.
Kevin Poulter is a partner at Freeths in the employment group. He said that since the Worker Protection Act, 2023 came into effect in October, employers are now more responsible for taking proactive measures to protect their employees from sexual harassment by colleagues and third parties.
He said: “The BBC’s transparency as a public broadcaster means we hear about issues that would otherwise be kept confidential in private companies, at least temporarily.” There will be an investigation, no doubt, but this must proceed in a fair, considered manner, away from public discourse.
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