I warned BBC about Gregg Wallace seven years ago – he was told behaviour was unacceptable… but they failed to stop it
The BBC is facing serious questions over its failure to act promptly on the allegations
A MASTERCHEF star says she warned the BBC about comments made by Gregg Wallace seven years ago.
Times Radio host Aasmah Mir says she complained to BBC executives about inappropriate comments allegedly made by Wallace when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017.
She accused the presenter of sexist behaviour on set that was “unacceptable” and said it should not continue.
Despite reporting this to the BBC in 2017, Wallace allegedly went on to demean women for a further six years.
An email to the broadcaster by Aasmah expressed how she didn’t want to feel guilt if further allegations were to emerge in the future.
She how she also sent another email which told the corporation: “This must not happen again to another woman”
In a post on X, the radio presenter on the show which led to her complaint.
While waiting for cameras to reset on a shot, she claims Wallace said to “tell a colleague at the BBC ‘that she was a sexy b****'”.
Despite being said “in front of everyone”, Aasmah said no-one batted an eyelid, leading her to complain.
The presenter, who hosts a show on Times Radio, added: “I left the competition first.
“But two female contestants including Ulrika Jonsson told me afterwards that he had told another contestant that the way she was handling fish ‘looked like a rapist doing foreplay'”.
Despite the complaint being filed, and Wallace apologising, his behaviour allegedly continued.
Wallace has also been accused of mimicking a sexual act on a member of staff, as well as stripping off his clothes and dancing with only a sock on his penis.
Presenter Kirsty Wark told the BBC on Thursday that Wallace twice “used sexualised language in front of a number of people” when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
Wallace’s lawyers have denied that he engages in sexually harassing behaviour.
Since allegations have emerged, the BBC has put scrutiny on Banijay, the owner of the TV production company Endemol Shine, which makes MasterChef for the broadcaster.
Banijay has launched an investigation in which it says Wallace is co-operating.
Aasmah received no response from her initial email and was later told it had gone to an incorrect address.
Gregg Wallace lashes out at ‘middle-class women of a certain age’ for complaining about him amid ‘sexual comments’ probe
The MasterChef host is the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
It comes after the TV chef was accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb presenter Kirsty Wark – accusations he denies.
Wallace, 60, has stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
Now, Wallace has hit back against the accusations in another bizarre Instagram post.
He told his followers: “I have been doing Masterchef for 20 years – amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life.
“And apparently now I am reading in the paper there’s been 13 complaints in that time.
“In the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity Masterchef.
“This isn’t right.
“In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo, can you imagine?”
After forwarding it to executive Kate Phillips, who now oversees unscripted programmes for the BBC, she was told the incident had been logged in March.
However, no one had told Aasmah this and she asked the BBC to ensure the production team, and executives, inform people in the future when a complaint involving them has been logged.
She felt “horrified” at the idea that it could be an “acceptable culture” on set, for the reason behind her belief the incident was not logged.
The MasterChef star said it “really poisoned the atmosphere”.
Kate, however, responded saying she would ensure to be “informed straight away” if any allegations were to emerge again.
A BBC spokesperson told The Sun: “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.
“It would be inappropriate for us to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay’s ongoing investigation or otherwise influence it.”
Additionally, in response to reports in The Times and Telegraph, a BBC source said: “While we are not going to comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, particularly when there is an ongoing process in place being run by Banijay who have the direct contractual relationship with Gregg Wallace, it would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us – not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken.
“We continue to urge caution about pre-judging any of this, particularly the involvement of BBC staff members and any inference they have not acted appropriately.”
TV STARS BLAST WALLACE’S BEHAVIOUR
Gregg Wallace has been told to “shut up and listen” by TV stars after the MasterChef host went on a bizarre rant about “middle-aged women”.
Lord Craig Mackinlay and TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall shared their opinions on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
In a bizarre Instagram post earlier today, Wallace blasted “middle-class women of a certain age” for making complaints about him.
The MasterChef host’s comments were discussed by the panel with Victoria Derbyshire filling in for Kuenssberg.
When quizzed about the post, Hugh said: “I think the intervention is not wise.
“I don’t know Gregg well, I’ve met him a couple of times.
“He’s very likeable. He’s a very professional screen presence.
“I have a very talented chef on Masterchef right at the moment, and she’s doing incredibly well, and I’ve been really enjoying watching her and enjoying Gregg’s presenting.
“I think it’s likely that Gregg has what we might call a bawdy sense of humour. Clearly, that’s offended people.
MasterChef staff were given ‘whistleblowing hotline to report Gregg Wallace complaints THREE years ago’
MASTERCHEF staff concerned about Gregg Wallace's behaviour were told to call a whistleblowing hotline three years ago, it is claimed.
The TV chef, 60, stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
A probe has been launched into complaints against him spanning 17 years.
He is alleged to have made sexual remarks to 13 colleagues, including ex Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark.
One witness claimed the former green grocer walked into the studio naked apart from a “sock over his penis” then did a dance.
They also said he mimed a sex act as a worker knelt to clean his trousers.
A source has now said production crew were directed to a freephone number and website to report issues, including harassment and bullying.
It was at a time when Wallace was allegedly behaving inappropriately.
They told The Mirror: “Workers were told about a hotline which had been put in place by the production company to report problems.
“It was never explicitly said it was because of Gregg but people were guided to it when raising concerns about him.
“That came in three series ago… There’s a sense of relief from some of the staff on MasterChef now Gregg has gone.”
The Film and TV Charity launched the bullying hotline in 2021 and it was mentioned on call sheets of shows owned by Banijay UK – which is behind MasterChef.
“I think one of the issues is that down the years people have not felt able to tell him when he might want to rein it in a bit, and clearly he’s crossed some lines.
“In terms of how he’s going about defending himself.
“I understand the instinct when you feel you’re backed into a corner, but I don’t think it’s smart to come out talking like that when at the moment he should probably be listening for more questions for the BBC.”
Lord Mackinlay then waded in on the debate, with the former MP saying: “I don’t know him.
“He was well on the way of becoming a national treasure with the type of programmes he’s doing. Is he, bawdy? Is he a bit laddish?
“I think the barrier has moved over the years, and perhaps he is overstretched into lewd behaviour, sexual behaviour, but that is for the investigation to look into, and I agree with you.
“Probably at the moment he’s best to shut up and see where it goes.”
Wallace has also faced scrutiny from other TV stars after the allegations were revealed and his subsequent statement.
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp also slammed Wallace in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
She said: “Within 1hr of meeting Gregg Walllace he told me of a sex act that he & his partner at the time enjoyed “every morning”, she’d just left the room, we were filming a pilot.
“Did he get off on how embarrassed I was? It was totally unprofessional, I’m a #MiddleClassWomanOfaCertainAge.”
