Gregg Wallace, the 60-year-old MasterChef presenter, has been accused of making sexualised jokes and inappropriate remarks towards women over nearly two decades. Wallace stepped back from the BBC show last week amid an investigation into his conduct. His lawyers have denied any sexually harassing behaviour.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark was among the first to publicly accuse Wallace, saying he told “sexualised” jokes during filming of Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. Wark said she raised the issue with an executive at the production company, Shine, but the response suggested his behaviour was treated as an “affliction” that would be “pulled back” if too egregious.
BBC News reported that 13 people have made allegations about Wallace’s conduct over a 17-year period, including claims that he talked openly about his sex life, took his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to “give her a fashion show”, and told a junior female colleague he wasn’t wearing boxer shorts. Some allegations date back 19 years, with a worker on MasterChef saying Wallace regularly made sexually explicit remarks on set in 2005 and 2006.
Former contestant Dr Kate Tomas alleged that Wallace sexually harassed her during the show in 2008 and that her complaint was ignored. She also accused him of impersonating an Indian accent in front of an Indian staff member. Presenter Kirstie Allsopp said Wallace referred to a sex act shortly after meeting her, describing it as “totally unprofessional”. Actor and author Emma Kennedy said she complained about Wallace in 2012 after he allegedly touched another woman’s bottom, but the production team seemed to expect the problem to “come to light” eventually.
