Gregg Wallace 'fascinated by my sex life and made lesbian jokes'
Gregg Wallace has been the host of MasterChef since 2005.
Television presenter Gregg Wallace has been criticized by a woman who collaborated with him on a travel program for allegedly making repeated jokes about lesbians.
A woman identified as Anna mentioned that he was "intrigued" by her relationships with women and inquired about the "practical details" of how it all functioned. She is one of several individuals from various shows who approached BBC News to share their experiences regarding the TV host.
On Thursday, the company behind MasterChef announced that Wallace will temporarily leave his role as host while claims of past misconduct are being looked into.
Wallace's legal team insists that the claims of him participating in sexually harassing behavior are completely untrue. The production company behind Masterchef, Banijay UK, has initiated an investigation, and they have stated that Wallace is fully cooperating with the process.
Downing Street expressed that the claims regarding Wallace are "highly troubling."
A representative from Number 10 stated that it is important for a comprehensive investigation to take place, but emphasized that this issue is primarily the responsibility of the BBC.
"As that process is ongoing, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to make any comments," the spokesman said.
The BBC has also received reports that Wallace made comments about spanking and threesomes in front of the crew.
In a video shared on Instagram on Thursday night, Wallace expressed gratitude by saying, "I want to extend my thanks to everyone who has contacted me, reached out, and offered their support."
"That’s very kind of you—thank you so much!"
Caution - this piece includes potentially upsetting material.
Kirsty Wark: Gregg Wallace employed sexualized language, making people feel uneasy.
Anna was part of Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends in 2019. She shared with us that Wallace often brought up topics related to sex, including themes of power and spanking.
She stated that it was very improper.
She mentions that he frequently commented on her sexual orientation, even when he first met her partner.
"I go out with women, and that really intrigued Gregg Wallace," she mentioned.
She mentioned that he inquired whether she was absolutely certain she wasn't interested in dating men.
"I Won't Work With Him Again"
Another woman, whom we will refer to as Georgina, collaborated with Wallace on the BBC's Eat Well For Less television program in 2019.
She mentions that he frequently made inappropriate remarks, like pointing out that his wife was just two years older than her.
"It really put me in a tough spot," she remarked. "How am I supposed to reply to something like that?"
At another time, she mentioned that she needed to head over to Wallace's car to handle his parking citation for him.
She inquired if that was alright with him, and he supposedly replied, “You can join me in my car, but are you ready for everyone to believe you've just been with a celebrity?”
Georgina and her coworker, referred to as Lisa, also reported an incident where he emerged from the bathroom without a shirt while they were working. He then requested that they take his coffee order.
"Lisa stated that Wallace's actions are not acceptable."
It's unacceptable for us to keep placing women in these situations and to keep giving him a public platform. This undermines the principles of our industry.
Georgina mentioned that she declined to collaborate with him on a show afterwards.
"He Claimed He Was Hosting A Fashion Show"
Another young woman, referred to as Amanda by the BBC, shared two encounters with Wallace during the 2019 filming of the Channel 5 program, Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends.
She mentioned that the first incident occurred while they were on a road trip together. At that time, he pulled out his phone and shared pictures of a woman in lingerie with her.
On another occasion, she mentioned that they had recently wrapped up shooting in Italy, and she accompanied him to his hotel room.
She mentioned that he began to display his outfits for the following day. Then, he removed his shirt and announced, "Let me put on a fashion show for you."
A male coworker was present at first, but she mentioned that he soon exited, leaving her by herself with Wallace.
She mentioned that she can still picture the Millwall tattoo on his chest and that she felt really uneasy during their time in the hotel room.
"It's an unusual experience to find yourself in a room alone with someone you don't know who isn't wearing a shirt."
BBC News, which operates independently from the larger organization, began looking into Wallace during the summer after learning of the allegations. So far, we've received claims from 13 individuals related to five different shows, spanning from 2005 to 2022.
One of the people who spoke out was broadcaster Kirsty Wark, who participated in Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She mentioned that he made "sexualized" jokes while they were filming.
On Tuesday, we reached out to Wallace's team with a letter outlining the claims we've come across.
Two days later, it was revealed that Wallace would be stepping back from his role as host of MasterChef while an investigation takes place.
Since that time, numerous individuals have stepped forward to share their accusations against the host.
On Thursday, Sir Rod Stewart took to Instagram to label Wallace as a "rude bully." He also stated that the host "shamed" his wife during her appearance on MasterChef in 2021.
BBC News has reached out to Wallace's team for a response regarding Sir Rod's message.
Other Allegations Reported By BBC News Include:
A woman who worked on MasterChef in 2019 claimed that Wallace discussed his sex life with her and even inquired whether her new boyfriend had a nice rear end.
A woman who was working at the BBC Good Food Show in 2010 reported that Wallace fixed his gaze on her chest.
In 2019, a woman who worked on the show Eat Well For Less recounted an instance where Wallace mentioned that he wasn't wearing any boxers beneath his jeans.
A male employee from MasterChef during the 2005-06 season reported that Wallace often made inappropriate remarks while filming. He recalled one instance where Wallace described a dish as tasting like his aunt's private parts, and another time when he asked a female crew member if she had engaged in certain intimate activities with her boyfriend.
A male employee involved in Big Weekends and other travel programs from 2019 to 2022 claims that Wallace frequently discussed threesomes with sex workers and mentioned that he "enjoys spanking" several times a day.
Photo credit: Getty Images
One of the largest trade unions in the UK has stated that it was informed about accusations regarding Wallace's conduct.
"I wish I could say I'm shocked by these reports, but honestly, I feel like it was only a matter of time before these stories began to surface," said Philippa Childs, the leader of Bectu, in an interview with BBC News.
She mentioned that freelancers often find it challenging to voice their concerns due to the unstable conditions of the industry.
"They often worry about where they'll find their next opportunity and whether they'll be able to make a name for themselves in the field," she explained.
There's a common reluctance to file reports, as many individuals feel it's unsafe to do so. They may also believe that if they do come forward, the production company or broadcaster won't take their concerns seriously or won't act on them, especially considering the influence held by those in front of the camera.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today show, former BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey remarked that Wallace is just the most recent example in a series of presenters who have exhibited inappropriate behavior.
She expressed her significant worry that the problems had been brought to light and looked into, "but despite that, the inappropriate behavior persisted."
"Being a TV presenter isn't a one-of-a-kind talent, and we need to stop considering them as something exceptional. They are just one member of a large team that collaborates to bring a show to life, and they are no more important or special than anyone else," she remarked.
"It seems we've developed a culture, likely stemming from the entertainment industry, where we cater to those in the spotlight. As a result, they often face fewer consequences for their actions compared to others on the team who wouldn't be permitted to behave the same way."
Wallace's legal team asserts that the claim he exhibits sexually harassing behavior is completely untrue.
However, some people have stood up for Wallace. TV producer Alice Harper shared with the Times, “I’ve gotten to know Gregg very well, and I’ve led a team with many young women, and I have never witnessed Gregg behaving inappropriately.”
He constantly cracks jokes on set to help lighten the mood. I had to explain to him some topics that were inappropriate for humor. A few times, I pulled him aside, and he listened and became more mindful afterward.
In a column for the Daily Telegraph, journalist William Sitwell, who has been acquainted with Wallace for around 25 years, noted that the presenter is "truly concerned about the welfare of those around him."
"He fosters connections with the contestants, creating a genuine sense of warmth. When the cameras are off, his focus shifts from their cooking to learning about their lives and personalities."
Sitwell mentioned that Wallace delivers jokes as if he's conducting a Bernard Manning comedy class. Some of the jokes are just plain silly, while others push the boundaries. But that's exactly the essence of humor.
Powerful People Often Escape Consequences
The accusations arise during a challenging period for the BBC.
In October, the BBC shared information about a review aimed at preventing the misuse of power, following the disclosure of issues related to Huw Edwards, who used to be their top news presenter and was found to have engaged in offenses related to child abuse images.
In November, BBC chairman Samir Shah stated in a speech that there is still a prevailing feeling that influential individuals often escape accountability for their actions.
A MasterChef employee we interviewed, whom we'll refer to as Claire, believes that the way the industry addresses accusations is fundamental to the issue at hand.
"We need to improve our ability to handle these situations and learn to put a stop to them. It’s important not to let celebrity status, fame, or power give individuals the confidence to behave badly and mistreat others."
On Thursday, Banijay UK, the company behind MasterChef, announced that they are looking into some issues. They issued a statement saying, "This week, the BBC received complaints from people regarding past allegations of misconduct involving presenter Gregg Wallace during one of our programs."
Wallace, who is 60 years old, has expressed his dedication to completely engaging with the process.
If you are experiencing any of the challenges mentioned in this article, assistance and support can be found at the BBC Action Line.
Banijay's announcement wrapped up by inviting anyone with questions or concerns to speak up.
A representative from the BBC stated, "We take all concerns brought to our attention seriously and have strong procedures in place to address them."
Last month, the BBC revealed that it would be conducting an independent assessment of its workplace environment.
A representative from Channel 5, the network that broadcasts Big Weekends, stated, "We treat any claims like these with the utmost seriousness."
"We’ve requested that the production company investigate these historical allegations. The health and safety of everyone participating in our productions is our top priority, and we are committed to ensuring that all our projects provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone involved."
The production team at Rumpus, known for creating Big Weekends, stated, "We have a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of unacceptable conduct on our sets."
"We had thorough safety procedures in place throughout the production of these series, and any concerns raised would have been looked into following those protocols."
Have you experienced similar challenges mentioned in this story?
