Gregg Wallace is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across a range of shows
Gregg Wallace stepping away from MasterChef amid external review
Former BBC producer John Mair appeared on GB News Breakfast to offer his perspective on Gregg Wallace stepping back from MasterChef amidst an external review of historical misconduct complaints.
Mair, speaking with anchors Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello, was asked about the potential that Wallace’s television career could be in ruins. He responded: “I would have thought so. He won’t appear on screen again. This is his Frank Bough moment, isn’t it?”
Frank Bough, a prominent BBC presenter known for hosting shows such as Breakfast and BBC Sports, experienced a significant fall from grace after being dismissed in 1988 due to sex and drug-related scandals.
Mair expressed compassion for Gregg’s situation and noted the current climate: “There is a movement now that anybody who talks out of turn gets pulled off air.”
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He also commented on the broader challenges facing the BBC: “The BBC has been very unlucky; they have lost four presenters involuntarily in the last two months and two of them voluntarily. But, is the BBC being over cautious and as soon as there is a whiff of smoke, the BBC retreats and says, ‘take them off air’,” reports the Express.
Highlighting the need for dynamic television personalities, Mair said: “Presenters have to have a certain personality, a certain ego. You don’t want bland presenters, do you? So sometimes their ego gets the better of them.”
Wallace, aged 60, is currently facing allegations of inappropriate sexual comments made towards 13 individuals across various programmes over the span of 17 years. These allegations came to light following a report from BBC News earlier this week, including a letter to Wallace’s representatives.
Renowned former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark is among the complainants against a BBC host, accusing him of making sexually charged jokes when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
In response to the allegations, John recounted: “This story has got a lot of oxygen from Kirsty Wark who is well-respected and did a short, sharp, interview about it.
“So, there is obviously a lot of truth to it. But if you hire a barrow boy, what do you expect? Do you expect a barrow boy not to be a barrow boy?”
Kirsty Wark expressed to the BBC that Wallace told stories and jokes of a “sexualised nature” on two occasions during the filming of the show, and she felt they were “really, really in the wrong place”.
Further allegations have surfaced from BBC News sources, including claims of the presenter openly discussing his sex life, stripping off his top to ‘give a fashion show’ in front of a female staff member, and informing a junior female colleague that he was not wearing boxer shorts beneath his jeans.
Despite this, Gregg Wallace’s legal team insists to BBC News that “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
Wallace has broken his silence via an Instagram post last Thursday night, expressing gratitude to his supporters: “I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support. It’s good of you, thank you very much.”
It was also revealed on Thursday that Wallace is ready to “committed to fully co-operating” with a third-party investigation by Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef.
A 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 under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating 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.
“Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
The statement continued: “If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakupbanijayuk.com in confidence.”
A BBC spokesperson commented: “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.”
Wallace is famed for his role co-hosting MasterChef with John Torode from 2005 as well as its spin-off series Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, remains on air.
Despite the circumstances, recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace are set to go ahead, according to PA news agency.
GB News Breakfast is on the free to air channel weekdays at 6am
