S Poddar
TV presenter Gregg Wallace is stepping down from MasterChef after the BBC was informed of historical misconduct claims against him.
The 60-year-old promised to cooperate fully with an investigation, as a statement from the show’s production company, Banijay UK, confirmed.
This week, the BBC received complaints from individuals concerning historical allegations of misconduct involving Gregg Wallace during his work on one of our shows. Although these allegations have not been directly reported to our show producers or Banijay UK, we believe an immediate external review is the right course of action to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation,” the statement read.
Throughout this period, Wallace will be relieving himself of his MasterChef position. “Banijay UK values safety and respect for all the people working within our organisations. Our responsibility to ensure people’s well-being is the cornerstone on which we continue to develop that work and communicate our standards of acceptable behavior to cast and crew involved in all productions. The group has multiple channels, from an anonymous reporting line, across the set for concerns raised.
The company further emphasized: “Although these allegations are historical, any reports indicating a breach of our behavioural standards are fully investigated and appropriately addressed.”
Banijay UK also encouraged people with relevant information or concerns to reach out via their confidential email address, speakup@banijayuk.com.
The BBC shared similar sentiments, emphasizing its no-nonsense stance on unacceptable behavior. A representative said: “We take all complaints and concerns seriously. Any behavior that fails to meet the standards expected by the BBC is not tolerated. For individuals contracted by external production companies, we ensure all concerns are communicated to the relevant company and offer our full support in addressing them.”
Despite the ongoing review, it has been confirmed that recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will still air as scheduled.
Wallace has been a familiar face on MasterChef and is known for his boisterous and unique presentation, but these allegations represent an important moment for the show. During the investigation process, Banijay UK and the BBC have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and professional working environment for all participants in their productions.
