MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace is under scrutiny following allegations of inappropriate remarks and behaviour dating back nearly 20 years. The 60-year-old television personality announced his decision to step back from the BBC show as an investigation into his conduct begins. Wallace has denied claims of sexual harassment, calling them “entirely false.”
Allegations surface from multiple sources
The accusations include a range of incidents on and off set. Broadcaster Kirsty Wark was among the first to come forward, alleging Wallace made “sexualised jokes” during the filming of Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, which she described as “really, really in the wrong place.” Wark, alongside 12 others, has accused Wallace of inappropriate conduct over a 17-year period. Claims include Wallace discussing his sex life, removing his shirt in front of a female colleague, and making explicit comments about his clothing.
Former contestant Dr Kate Tomas claimed she experienced sexual harassment from Wallace during the 2008 series of MasterChef and called him “disgusting and repulsive.” She also accused him of mimicking an Indian accent in a derogatory manner. Tomas said she refused to reappear on the show due to Wallace’s behaviour.
Presenter Kirstie Allsopp recently alleged that Wallace made explicit remarks about a sex act within an hour of meeting her during the filming of a pilot. Writing on social media, she described the remarks as “totally unprofessional.”
Historical complaints and institutional responses
Concerns about Wallace’s behaviour were raised with television bosses as far back as 2005. A MasterChef worker alleged that Wallace regularly made sexually explicit remarks on set in 2005 and 2006. Other complaints include an incident in 2012 where Emma Kennedy, a former Celebrity MasterChef winner, reported witnessing Wallace behaving inappropriately towards a female photographer’s assistant. Despite complaints, Wallace continued to appear on television.
The Sunday Times reported that in 2017, a BBC executive warned Wallace his behaviour was “unacceptable and cannot continue” after broadcaster Aasmah Mir filed a formal complaint. Additional complaints arose in 2018 during Wallace’s time on the quiz show Impossible Celebrities, resulting in a formal HR investigation and a 90-minute meeting to address his behaviour.
In 2022, director Dawn Elrick sent a letter to the BBC outlining allegations against Wallace. While the letter described a “pattern of behaviour” that failed to meet standards, the BBC reportedly declined to pursue further investigations unless the women involved filed individual complaints.
Welsh contestant speaks out
Chris, a Welsh MasterChef contestant from 2016, shared his experiences on BBC Radio 5Live. He recounted a moment when Wallace joked about him being a “sheep sh*****r,” which he found humorous rather than offensive. While Chris acknowledged Wallace’s lack of a “filter,” he expressed confidence that the presenter was not intentionally trying to make others uncomfortable.
Chris noted, however, that reactions to Wallace’s humor varied. “Maybe others wouldn’t have been fine with it… but I didn’t feel uncomfortable,” he said, adding that some might consider such remarks inappropriate in a professional setting.
Accusations from other programmes
Wallace faces further allegations from individuals associated with shows like Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends and Eat Well for Less?. A woman working on Big Weekends in 2019 accused Wallace of making inappropriate comments about her sexuality. Additionally, staff at a Nestlé factory in York complained about Wallace’s remarks regarding the weight of female employees during filming for Inside the Factory.
Wallace denies the allegations
In response to the accusations, Wallace released a video on Instagram, claiming the complaints are from “middle-class women of a certain age” and emphasising that no staff from his other shows had raised concerns. “In 20 years of television, I’ve worked with over 4,000 contestants. Apparently, there’s been 13 complaints in that time. This isn’t right,” he said.
Wallace’s legal team has categorically denied the allegations of sexual harassment, stating they are without merit.
Production companies and broadcasters react
The production company behind MasterChef, Banijay UK, has launched an independent investigation. In a statement, the company said Wallace is “committed to fully cooperating” and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a safe working environment for cast and crew. The BBC and Channel 5 have also expressed their commitment to investigating the claims and maintaining high standards on their productions.
While the investigation continues, Wallace’s future on British television remains uncertain.
