BBC under pressure with claims against MasterChef host Gregg Wallace over ‘inappropriate’ jokes

LONDON – The BBC faced pressure on Dec 2 to take one of its most popular and long-running shows, MasterChef (1990 to present), off the air following claims one of the reality cooking series’ presenters engaged in sexually harassing behaviour.

Presenter Gregg Wallace, 60, has denied making “inappropriate” sexual jokes and comments after more than a dozen people came forward last week with allegations spanning a 17-year period. But he was forced to make an apology on Dec 2 for his recent remarks on the matter.

The furore is the latest scandal to hit the taxpayer-funded British broadcaster.

Another prime-time show, Strictly Come Dancing (2004 to present), was thrown into crisis in 2024 amid bullying accusations.

And former top news anchor Huw Edwards pleaded guilty in July to making indecent pictures of children, narrowly avoiding jail in a stunning fall from grace.

The production company behind MasterChef, a decades-old programme aired on the BBC whose branded format is now produced in more than 50 countries, has said it is probing the claims against Wallace.

It also announced that Wallace would stop presenting while it investigates, but that the current recorded season of MasterChef: The Professionals would continue to air.

The allegations against Wallace emerged from a BBC News investigation which also reported the broadcaster had warned the presenter after a complaint was made in 2018.

He sparked further backlash over the new claims when he said in a video posted on Dec 1 that they had been made by “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”.

Wallace apologised on Dec 2 for “any offence that I caused” with those comments.

One of his accusers had said they showed he “clearly hasn’t learnt his lesson”.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman told reporters that Wallace’s comments were a “completely inappropriate and misogynistic” response to the “deeply concerning” claims.

The spokesman noted Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy held talks with BBC bosses last week “to seek assurances that there are robust processes in place to deal with complaints”.

The broadcaster is conducting an independent review into workplace culture which Mr Starmer’s spokesman said “must deliver clear and timely recommendations”.

Earlier on Dec 2, Labour MP Rupa Huq, a member of Parliament’s watchdog Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the BBC should consider not airing the current season, as well as upcoming Christmas episodes.

“I think possibly there is an argument for pausing while this investigation takes its course,” Ms Huq told BBC radio, adding the broadcaster “should send a strong signal (about) this sort of behaviour”.

Wallace’s lawyers have said “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.

A BBC spokesperson said it had “robust processes” to deal with complaints “swiftly and appropriately”, and added it “will always listen if people want to make us aware of something directly”. AFP