Television presenter Gregg Wallace has issued a public apology while defending the nature of his on-set humour, following his dismissal from the BBC's MasterChef after a major investigation.
The Apology and Defence
In a lengthy statement published on Substack, Wallace, 61, expressed regret for his conduct, admitting he had been "stupid, defensive and arrogant" in his initial response to complaints. He specifically apologised for dismissing complainants as "middle-class women of a certain age," calling the remark "hurtful and wrong."
However, Wallace sought to contextualise the behaviour that led to his firing. He acknowledged that jokes on the show were frequently "sexual" and relied on innuendo, referencing food items like "spotted dick, nuts, the rim of a glass, little tarts." He argued this was part of a wider culture, stating: "Food is full of innuendo... I'd see cameramen making phallic shapes out of leftover ingredients."
He directly compared the atmosphere to other popular shows, insisting the humour was "no worse than Bake Off" and similar to gags on The 1% Club. Wallace claimed he was playing a "loud, cheeky greengrocer" persona encouraged by producers to generate energy, and was never told to stop.
The Investigation and Allegations
The BBC sacked Wallace in July 2025 after a seven-month investigation that upheld 45 separate complaints against him. The allegations included:
- Use of inappropriate sexual language and humour.
- Being in a "state of undress" on set.
- One instance of unwelcome physical contact.
In his statement, Wallace addressed the most serious claims. He described an incident 18 years ago where he emerged from his dressing room wearing only a shirt and a sock over his genitals, asserting everyone present laughed and the investigation confirmed it was not sexually motivated.
Regarding the physical contact, he said it occurred 17 years ago at a party when he had his hand on a woman's bum for "at least five minutes." He maintained he believed it was consensual, a point the investigation noted.
Fallout and Confusion
Wallace revealed his confusion over his dramatic fall from grace, questioning "whether the standards by which I was judged were knowable in advance." He said the "rules changed" in 2018 after a complaint on another show led to a formal warning, which left him shocked.
"It felt like a switch had flipped," he wrote. "Suddenly, the very thing I'd been rewarded for across five TV shows was a problem... I was an unscripted presenter paid to be energetic and funny who was now terrified of opening his mouth."
He conceded he now understands why contestants might not have challenged him, fearing it could affect their competition chances. "I accept responsibility for the impact of my actions," he stated.
Since his dismissal, Wallace has attempted to pivot his career, working as a personal trainer and sharing healthy recipes on social media platforms like TikTok.
The scandal also enveloped his co-host, John Torode, 60, who was dropped after the BBC upheld a complaint that he used an "extremely offensive racist term" during filming, though Torode said he had no recollection of the event.
