Gregg Wallace accusers criticise his response to allegations

Two of Gregg Wallace’s accusers have criticised his response to allegations of historic misconduct, after he mentioned that they had come from a “handful of middle-class girls of a sure age”.

One among his accusers mentioned the feedback confirmed he “clearly hasn’t learnt his lesson”, whereas one other mentioned he wrongly “appears to be saying he is the sufferer of classism”.

In a video posted to Instagram on Sunday, the presenter mentioned there had been “13 complaints” from “over 4,000 contestants” he had labored with in 20 years on the BBC present MasterChef.

Wallace stepped apart earlier this week after a BBC Information investigation revealed allegations of inappropriate sexual feedback and inappropriate behaviour towards him.

The investigation heard from 13 individuals spanning a variety of ages, who labored throughout 5 completely different exhibits.

Wallace’s attorneys have strongly denied he engages in sexually harassing behaviour, whereas the BBC mentioned it’s going to “all the time hear if individuals need to make us conscious of one thing straight”.

The 60-year-old informed his greater than 200,000 followers earlier on Sunday: “I have been doing MasterChef for 20 years – beginner, skilled and Celeb MasterChef – and I believe in that point I’ve labored with over 4,000 contestants of all completely different ages, all completely different backgrounds, all walks of life.

“And apparently now, I am studying within the paper, there’s been 13 complaints in that point.

“Now, within the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class girls of a sure age simply from Celeb MasterChef. This is not proper.”

He completed his assertion by saying: “In over 20 years of tv, are you able to think about what number of girls, feminine contestants on MasterChef, have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo – are you able to think about?”

Wallace additionally reposted screenshots of supportive messages obtained from individuals who mentioned they have been former contestants on the present or had labored with him.

Anna, not her actual title, was a part of a bunch that raised a criticism about Wallace in 2018 after working with him.

Reacting to the Instagram video, she informed BBC Information she was “not shocked he is attempting to minimise and dismiss the individuals who have bravely come ahead”.

“He clearly hasn’t learnt his lesson,” she added. “I’m to see what penalties he’ll lastly be dealing with from the BBC and [MasterChef production company] Banijay UK for his behaviour in direction of girls of all ages.

“Whereas they resolve, possibly Gregg ought to use this time to replicate on and take some accountability for the way he abused his place of energy as a substitute of including flames to the fireplace on social media.”

One other accuser, James, additionally not his actual title, mentioned Wallace’s video response “appears to be saying he is the sufferer of classism”.

“His humour is not usually working-class or liable to misinterpretation: from my perspective, its essential function is to check boundaries, make different individuals (particularly girls) uncomfortable, and show his energy throughout the room,” he mentioned.

“And it is not simply girls who’re offended – loads of males are too, it is simply that far too few of them have the host known as out on his dangerous behaviour.”

One other lady, who beforehand labored with Wallace however is just not one of many 13 individuals concerned within the BBC Information investigation, known as the video “so dismissive of the those that have come ahead”, particularly youthful girls.

“I don’t know what class and age must do with it,” she added.

Actress Emma Kennedy, who received Celeb MasterChef in 2012 and says she complained about Wallace’s behaviour on the time, mentioned “it doesn’t matter what the age of any lady is”.

She added: “Taking part in the ‘they’re having a go at me as a result of I’m working class’ card is ridiculous.”

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp informed BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend about an encounter with Wallace a number of years in the past that left her “so embarrassed”, after he “made a reference to one thing [he and his partner] did in mattress”.

She mentioned Wallace’s newest feedback have been “unacceptable”, including: “He’s primarily saying it is a class problem and middle-class girls do not perceive the kind of issues he says as a result of he is working-class.”

On Thursday, Banijay UK mentioned Wallace would step away from presenting the present whereas allegations of historic misconduct have been investigated.

He’s “dedicated to totally co-operating all through the method”, Banijay added.

It got here after BBC Information despatched a letter to Wallace’s representatives, setting out allegations we’ve got heard from 13 individuals, throughout a 17-year interval.

One among them was broadcaster Kirsty Wark, a Celeb MasterChef contestant in 2011, who mentioned he informed “sexualised” jokes throughout filming.

It comes as broadcasters and manufacturing corporations face recent questions over their dealing with of allegations towards Wallace.

Radio host Aasmah Mir mentioned she initially complained to Banijay in 2017 about inappropriate feedback Wallace had allegedly made throughout filming of the programme. It’s believed she then needed to take her criticism to the BBC.

In an inner e mail, BBC government Kate Phillips, who now heads up unscripted programmes for the company, mentioned his behaviour on set was “unacceptable and can’t proceed,” the Sunday Instances reported.

She added she would ensure that she was “knowledgeable immediately” ought to additional allegations be made towards him.

Mir later despatched an e mail that was copied to Phillips, saying: “This should not occur once more to a different lady.”

A number of the allegations towards Wallace within the BBC Information investigation relate to occasions after 2017.

There was one other criticism in 2018, which our investigation revealed, regarding a special present known as Not possible Celebrities.

A BBC probe on the time discovered his behaviour was “unacceptable and unprofessional” and he bought a 90-minute speaking to by Ms Phillips.

Individually, the Observer says a letter containing a number of claims of inappropriate behaviour by Gregg Wallace was despatched to the BBC in 2022, however didn’t end in additional investigation on the time.

A BBC supply mentioned on Sunday “it will be fallacious to report the BBC has finished nothing if or when issues have been raised with us”.

“We proceed to induce warning about pre-judging any of this, significantly the involvement of BBC workers members and any inference they haven’t acted appropriately,” the supply informed BBC Information.

On Saturday, Banijay UK introduced it had appointed “rigorous” regulation agency Lewis Silkin to steer an investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.