A report has found that 45 out of the 83 allegations levelled against former ‘MasterChef’ presenter Gregg Wallace during his time on the show were substantiated, including one instance of “unwelcome physical contact”. In November 2024, Banijay UK, the production company behind ‘MasterChef’, announced that Wallace would temporarily leave his presenting role while historical allegations of misconduct were looked into.
The investigation, conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, revealed that the “majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94 per cent) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018”, with only a single allegation being substantiated post-2018. The report also added that the: “majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour” and noted a few cases of other improper language and instances of being undressed, alongside “one incident of unwelcome physical contact”.
It was highlighted in the report that Wallace was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder during the seven-month investigation, suggesting that the findings should be considered with regard to his neurodiversity. Additionally, the investigation uncovered “10 standalone allegations were made against other people, two of which were substantiated”, concerning inappropriate language, specifically swearing and racist remarks.
Wallace, aged 60, has been described as “co-operative and forthcoming” after participating in three interviews with the investigative team, totalling over 14 hours. However, Banijay UK has deemed that “Wallace’s return to MasterChef (is) untenable” in light of the numerous sustained allegations against him.
Patrick Holland, chief executive of Banijay UK, acknowledged the discomforting nature of the report which “makes for uncomfortable reading, highlighting failures in legacy reporting and HR procedures”. He emphasised the report’s value in providing “valuable insight to ensure that going forward everyone working on our productions feels safe and supported, and that inappropriate behaviour is quickly and professionally dealt with”.
Mr Holland further commented: “In earlier years, specifically prior to 2016 where the vast majority of these issues arose, it is clear that escalation procedures were not as robust as they should have been, and awareness of policies and procedures were lacking particularly amongst freelance staff.”
He confirmed Wallace’s departure from MasterChef, expressing regret to those affected: “We are extremely sorry to anyone who has been impacted by this behaviour and felt unable to speak up at the time or that their complaint was not adequately addressed.”
Holland also praised ‘MasterChef’, saying: “MasterChef is a much-loved show which, year in, year out, changes the lives and careers of contestants, amateur and professional alike. It’s made by a brilliant team of outstanding professionals and we look forward to bringing more exceptional cooking to screens in the coming months and years.”
The BBC has communicated to Wallace that they do not intend to work with him in the future, following an investigation that uncovered numerous allegations of misconduct over a span of 19 years.
The statement from the broadcaster read: “The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years. This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.”
The BBC acknowledged that there were ‘missed opportunities’ to tackle the behaviour. They said: “Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour, both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.”
Regarding the unaired series of MasterChef filmed last year, the BBC has yet to decide whether it will be broadcast. They added: “We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part, and at the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants. We want to reaffirm, there is no place for the abuse of power, unacceptable behaviour or language at the BBC, or shows made for the BBC.”
Previously, a BBC News investigation brought to light multiple allegations of sexual comments and other inappropriate actions against Wallace, including claims from 13 individuals across various programmes over 17 years, with former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark among them. Wallace’s legal team issued a statement at the time, refuting the claims against him and asserting that “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”, as reported by the BBC.
In an Instagram video shared in December, Wallace attributed complaints regarding his conduct to “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”. The ensuing uproar led Wallace to issue an apology for any “offence” or “upset” he may have caused, announcing his decision to “take some time out”.
Anticipating the release of an independent scrutiny report, Wallace announced via an Instagram post dated July 8 that he had been cleared of the “most serious and sensational accusations” levied against him. Moreover, he revealed that his neurodiversity had “now formally (been) diagnosed as autism”, mentioning this had been “suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef”.
This development in Wallace’s social media statements and the forthcoming report coincide with allegations brought forth by over 50 individuals, as reported by BBC News last week. Most accused him of making inappropriate sexual remarks, while 11 women specifically charged him with touching them inappropriately.
Famous for originally hosting ‘Saturday Kitchen’ on the BBC in 2002, Wallace has also appeared in other programmes including ‘Eat Well For Less?’, ‘Inside The Factory’, ‘Turn Back Time’, ‘Harvest’, and ‘Supermarket Secrets’. Nevertheless, his most notable roles were as a presenter on ‘MasterChef’, ‘MasterChef: The Professionals’, and ‘Celebrity MasterChef’.
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