Gregg Wallace has sparked controversy by claiming that allegations of sexual misconduct against him have come from “middle-class women of a certain age”. The MasterChef host, 60, made the comments in a video posted on Instagram, just days after stepping back from his role amid an investigation into multiple complaints.
In the video, Wallace said that over 20 years he had worked with over 4,000 contestants and argued that the 13 complaints reported in the press were from a small group. He also questioned how many female contestants had made sexual remarks or innuendos, and claimed that no staff from his other shows had ever complained about him.
His remarks have drawn criticism, including from presenter Kirstie Allsopp, who said Wallace had made inappropriate sexual comments shortly after meeting her. Allsopp described his behaviour as “totally unprofessional” and addressed the hashtag #MiddleClassWomanOfaCertainAge.
The BBC is investigating 13 allegations of inappropriate sexual comments made over a 17-year period, while Channel 5 is also looking into behaviour during the making of a programme in 2019. A letter detailing some allegations was sent to the BBC in 2022, and a BBC executive warned Wallace in 2017 that his behaviour was “unacceptable”.
Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall described Wallace’s defensive response as “not wise”, suggesting he should be listening rather than attacking. Wallace’s lawyers have denied that he engages in sexually harassing behaviour.
