WALLACE SPEAKS
Gregg Wallace breaks silence after MasterChef star forced to quit over ‘sexual comments to 13 colleagues’
It comes as he faces a fresh wave of allegations
GREGG Wallace has broken his silence after quitting MasterChef over allegations he made "sexual comments to 13 colleagues".
The presenter, 60, thanked people for “showing their support” on a video posted to his Instagram on Thursday evening.
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It comes as he has been accused of mimicking a sex act in front of horrified colleagues as he faces a fresh wave of allegations.
Gregg said in an Instagram video: "I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reach out and showing their support.
"That's good of you, thank you very much."
His mum Mary Pettman also told the Mail that Gregg is "fine" about the probe.
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The 81-year-old : "He's fine. I speak to my son quite regularly and he is fine."
Of the investigation and when Gregg will return to MasterChef, she added: "I have no idea what it's about. You will have to speak to him."
It comes after the presenter stepped down from his MasterChef judging role after a probe was launched into alleged "sexual comments".
Now, a fresh wave of allegations have been reported by
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The BBC also revealed 13 people, including Newsnight host Kirsty Walk, accused him of "inappropriate behaviour" over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022.
These include claims that Gregg held a female MasterChef colleague's head and thrust himself towards her while she was kneeling down in front of him cleaning a mark off his trousers.
Watch the shock moment Gregg Wallace tells female MasterChef contestant ‘I’d smash the living daylights out of that’ pudding despite BBC warning
He is also accused of walking into the MasterChef studio “completely naked except for [a] sock pulled over his penis” before doing a “silly dance”, the Telegraph - who spoke to a witness of the incident - reports.
Gregg's lawyers told the BBC it was entirely false that he had engaged in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
The Telegraph inquiry was instigated after the alleged victim made a formal complaint to the BBC.
The complaint further alleged the presenter was “very touchy feely” and made “disgusting sex-related jokes”.
Banijay UK, which makes the hit BBC cooking show, said it was carrying out “an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate”.
A spokesperson said: "While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating 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."
A BBC spokesman added: “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.
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“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.”
Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Gregg will still be shown as planned despite the development.
It comes after the MasterChef co-host was seen smiling outside his Kent home today.
Gregg was first accused of making "inappropriate sexual comments" to a female BBC staffer on Impossible Celebrities.
Some 13 people who worked with the presenter across a range of shows over a 17-year period have now accused him of making sexual comments, the BBC confirmed today.
It comes as...
- Gregg Wallace has today stepped down from MasterChef
- Star faces probe after allegedly making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues
- He was forced to quit amid the BBC's misconduct probe into his alleged behaviour
- BBC Newsnight presenter and 2011 contestant Kirsty Wark says Wallace told 'sexualised' jokes while filming
- Gregg accused of talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a young staffer staffer and telling another he wasn't wearing any pants
- Previous MasterChef episodes presented by scandal-hit Gregg still on iPlayer
- MasterChef star Aasmah Mir shares cryptic 'always keep your receipts' post
- BBC will still air two Masterchef festive specials this Christmas - despite both being fronted by Gregg Wallace
BBC Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, who said he told "sexualised" jokes during filming on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, is one of the complainants.
The broadcaster told how she feels strongly that the comments were "really, really in the wrong place".
Times Radio presenter and 2017 Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir today posted a cryptic message after the news broke, saying: "Always keep your receipts."
Other allegations include Gregg talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a junior staffer and telling another young colleague he wasn't wearing any pants.
BBC News today confirmed they launched a probe into Gregg in the summer after claims were made regarding five shows between 2005 to 2022.
Gregg's lawyers have branded the latest claims as false but the MasterChef host was asked to step away from the hit cooking series while a separate investigation is carried out.
The Sun told how the Gregg first landed himself in hot water with BBC bosses in 2018 for taking off his top and bragging about romps.
He was hauled into a meeting accused of making “inappropriate sexual comments” to a female staffer on BBC game show Impossible Celebrities.
Then in 2023, he was accused of being rude to women while working on BBC’s Inside The Factory.
After the complaints were raised, Gregg admitted he had made comments but denied they were sexual.
He also emphasised that he loved his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini, who he wed in 2016.
The TV star said: "With reference to what's in the newspapers, these allegations were investigated by the BBC six years ago.
"The allegations were investigations six years ago and my comments were found to be not sexual.
"I repeat, not sexual. Thank you everybody for your time.
"I don't want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that and I never have."
Gregg has presented MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005 and also hosts spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.
He was also the original presenter of Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has featured on Eat Well For Less and Supermarket Secrets.
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Gregg took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
It follows a series of scandals that have plagued the BBC- including Huw Edwards' child sex crimes and the Strictly Come Dancing bullying probe.
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