Gregg Wallace has vehemently criticized the BBC following reports that he has been dismissed from his role as the host of MasterChef UK after an investigation into his behavior.
Wallace shared a detailed statement over five Instagram slides, explaining his side of the story after a nine-month probe conducted by the law firm Silkins, commissioned by MasterChef producer Banijay UK.
Shortly after his Instagram post, BBC News released additional allegations against Wallace, sourced from 50 individuals. This independent news entity from the BBC’s corporate arm detailed further claims in an extensive report.
This report included accounts from 11 women alleging that the well-known British TV host engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct, such as groping and unwanted touching. BBC News noted that some of these women had also provided their accounts to Silkins.
Wallace refuted these new allegations, criticizing BBC News for spreading “baseless and sensationalised gossip disguised as fully verified news.” He also mentioned that the Silkins review, which is expected to soon release a summary, had absolved him of the most “serious and sensational” charges.
The inquiry into Wallace’s conduct was initiated last year after BBC News initially reported allegations that he made “inappropriate sexual comments” during five different shows over 17 years.
Among the 13 accusers was Kirsty Wark, a former presenter of BBC Newsnight and a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. Wallace’s legal representatives have consistently denied any allegations of sexually harassing behavior on his part.
A recent article by BBC News includes statements from 50 additional individuals. One woman accused Wallace of lowering his trousers in front of her in a dressing room. Another, associated with MasterChef in 2013, claimed Wallace “squeezed my bum” at a wrap party.
“The most severe allegations were proven to be unfounded following a thorough six-month investigation,” stated Wallace, revealing that Silkins primarily found him accountable for inappropriate language spanning from 2005 to 2018, for which he has “apologized unreservedly.”
He expressed his frustration, stating, “I am compelled to come forward now as the BBC News division plans to present legally dubious accusations, including some previously investigated and dismissed by the BBC and deemed not credible by Silkins. The BBC is no longer upholding balanced and impartial journalism but instead is pushing baseless and exaggerated stories as if they are thoroughly verified.”
Wallace accused BBC News of pursuing “slanderous click-bait” and publishing “unsubstantiated gossip.”
A spokesperson for the BBC stated, “Banijay UK has commissioned the law firm Lewis Silkin to conduct an investigation into the allegations against Gregg Wallace. We will not comment until the investigation concludes and the results are made public.” Banijay declined to comment.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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