‘Rigorous’ legislation agency to steer Gregg Wallace probe

MasterChef producers have appointed a “rigorous” legislation agency to steer an investigation into the alleged misconduct of presenter Gregg Wallace.

It comes after a BBC Information investigation heard allegations of inappropriate sexual feedback and inappropriate behaviour by 13 individuals who labored with Wallace throughout a spread of exhibits over a 17-year interval.

We put the claims to Wallace’s representatives on Tuesday.

On Thursday, MasterChef’s manufacturing firm Banijay UK mentioned Wallace would step away from presenting the present whereas allegations of historic misconduct had been investigated.

The 60-year-old is “dedicated to completely co-operating all through the method”, Banijay added.

Wallace’s legal professionals say it’s fully false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.

On the appointment of London legislation agency Lewis Silkin, a Banijay UK spokesperson mentioned it was a “extremely skilled specialist investigations crew which has overseen a broad vary of high-profile office investigations”.

“Banijay UK has been impressed by the agency’s rigorous, in-depth, and neutral evaluation and reporting,” they added.

“All data shall be dealt with sensitively, and names of these offering proof to the crew shall be saved confidential.”

Saying its investigation on Thursday, Banijay UK mentioned in a press release: “This week the BBC acquired complaints from people in relation to historic allegations of misconduct whereas working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one in every of our exhibits.”

In a video posted Instagram that night, Wallace mentioned: “I want to thank all of the individuals getting in contact, reaching out and exhibiting their help.

“It is good of you – thanks very a lot.”

Warning – this text comprises distressing content material

Veteran broadcaster Kirsty Wark was one of many 13 individuals who spoke to the BBC about Wallace. She was a Superstar MasterChef contestant in 2011.

Wark mentioned on two events throughout early morning filming, Wallace advised tales and jokes of a “sexualised nature” in entrance of contestants and crew.

BBC Information additionally heard from a former MasterChef employee who says Wallace confirmed her topless photos of himself and requested for massages.

A former employee on Channel 5 present Gregg Wallace’s Huge Weekends says he was fascinated by the actual fact she dated ladies and requested for the logistics of the way it labored.

Different claims made to BBC Information embrace:

• A feminine employee on MasterChef in 2019, who mentioned Wallace talked about his intercourse life and requested her if her new boyfriend had a pleasant backside
• A feminine employee on the BBC Good Meals Present in 2010, who mentioned Wallace stared at her chest
• A feminine employee on Eat Properly For Much less in 2019, who mentioned Wallace advised her he wasn’t sporting any boxer shorts beneath his denims
• A male employee on MasterChef in 2005-06, who mentioned Wallace frequently mentioned sexually specific issues on set. He mentioned Wallace as soon as mentioned a dish tasted like his aunt’s vagina, and on one other event, requested a feminine runner if she put her finger up her boyfriend’s backside
• A male employee who labored on Huge Weekends and different journey exhibits between 2019 and 2022, who says Wallace talked about threesomes with prostitutes and mentioned he “loves spanking” a number of occasions a day

Over the previous yr, the BBC labored with greater than 300 impartial manufacturing corporations, who remodeled half of the BBC’s TV hours.

In its assertion on Thursday, Banijay UK inspired anybody who needed to boost any issues to return ahead.

A BBC spokesman mentioned: “We take any points which are raised with us significantly and now we have strong processes in place to cope with them.”

Final month, the BBC additionally introduced an impartial evaluation of its office tradition.

A spokesman for Channel 5, which airs Huge Weekends, mentioned: “We take any allegations of this nature extraordinarily significantly.

“We now have requested the manufacturing firm to look into these historic claims. The well being and wellbeing of everybody concerned in our productions is essential to us and we would like all of our productions to be protected and safe locations for individuals to work.”

Manufacturing firm Rumpus, which produced Huge Weekends, mentioned: “We don’t tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions.

“Our complete obligation of care processes had been in place throughout manufacturing of those sequence and any issues raised would have been investigated in accordance with these.”