MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace has blasted “middle-class women of a certain age” who complained about him in a new Instagram post. A probe has been launched after a series of complaints were made about Wallace’s on-set conduct.
The 60-year-old, who has taken a step back from his presenting duties on the culinary programme, has refuted any allegations of making inappropriate sexual comments. Last night, he took to social media to respond to claims.
Wallace said: “I have been doing MasterChef for 20 years – amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef – and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life.
“And apparently now I am reading in the paper there’s been 13 complaints in that time. In the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity Masterchef.
“This isn’t right. In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo, can you imagine?”
He went on to share comments from other MasterChef contestants supporting him, including lawyer Aman Ganger, who competed in the competition earlier this year. He said: “[Wallace] made my recent MasterChef experience a memorable one. So encouraging, so helpful, made everyone in the kitchen feel reassured and at ease. A top man!”
While MasterChef contestant Lisa Addison, who appeared on the show in 2022, wrote: “Filmed with Gregg two years ago. An absolute gentleman! The woke will not stop til they get what they want! Yet another example of the media destroying someone.”
The Mirror reports that a series of complaints have been made against the TV presenter by people who claim they previously worked with him. The MasterChef presenter has been accused of making inappropriate sexual comments, which he denies.
Following the news that an investigation would be launched into Wallace’s alleged conduct, Sir Rod Stewart referred to the TV chef as a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully”. He wrote: “So Greg Wallace gets fired from Masterchef. 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.”
A spokesperson for Sir Rod’s wife, Penny Lancaster, has since revealed that she is prepared to go to the authorities. Speaking to Mail Online, they said: “While Penny is happy to talk to the appropriate authorities should they feel she has anything useful to add, she will not be discussing the matter with any broadcaster or newspaper at this time.”
It comes as Wallace is “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process” during the BBC’s investigation process, a statement from the show’s production company Banijay UK to the PA news agency said.
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.
“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.”
It continued: “Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.” The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it “seriously” after it was announced Wallace will step away from his role on MasterChef while complaints made to the corporation from individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated.
A BBC spokesperson said: “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.”
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