The BBC has cut ties with MasterChef star Gregg Wallace after an external report upheld 45 allegations against the presenter.
Last week, The Hollywood Reporter reported that more than 50 people approached the British broadcaster with fresh claims about the 60-year-old, including allegations that he groped a colleague and pulled his trousers down in front of another. Wallace had stepped back from the cooking series in November after ex-colleagues had come forward with allegations of inappropriate behavior.
Following the BBC piece in which various women made public their experiences with Wallace, an inquiry conducted by an independent law firm was ordered by MasterChef‘s production company Banijay.
The results of the report are damning for Wallace, who denied any wrongdoing. In total, it says 83 allegations were made against the MasterChef presenter, with the majority of claims relating to inappropriate sexual language and humor, but also culturally insensitive and racist comments. More than half (45) were upheld after an investigation.
Wallace is described as “energetic, humorous and generally able to put contestants at ease, which contributed to the show’s success,” but interactions and comments made on set “sometimes resulted in offense and/or left people feeling uncomfortable.”
Before the findings of the report were released, the star had insisted it cleared him of “the most serious and sensational allegations.” He came under further fire last week for seemingly suggesting his behavior was the result of his autism. The report released on Monday maintains that while its findings should be viewed in “the context of his neurodiversity” and that Wallace accepts his diagnosis may help to explain some of his actions, “he does not wish to hide behind it.”
Wallace’s lengthy statement posted to Instagram on Tuesday also said: “Nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years… I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience. I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established.”
Some of the 50-plus people who spoke to BBC News also contributed to the Banijay inquiry, describing incidents that happened across a range of shows Wallace featured on but also in environments like night clubs and award ceremonies. A rep for Wallace did not immediately respond for comment from THR.
The revelations covered a 19-year period. A BBC representative told THR on Monday that the broadcaster welcomed the publication of the findings and agreed, with Banijay U.K., that Wallace’s return to MasterChef ws “untenable.”
“The BBC has informed Mr Wallace we have no plans to work with him in future,” it said. “[His] behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.”
The broadcaster admits that opportunities were “missed” to address his misconduct, both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. “We accept more could and should have been done sooner. We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour.”
On claims made about two other individuals — and not Wallace — also included in the report, the BBC said: “[We] take these findings very seriously and we have asked Banijay U.K. to take action to address these issues, which is underway. This will be completed as a priority.”
Patrick Holland, executive chair of Banijay U.K., commented about the Lewis Silkin report: “Whilst it makes for uncomfortable reading, highlighting failures in legacy reporting and HR procedures, it also provides valuable insight to ensure that going forward everyone working on our productions feels safe and supported.”
“We are extremely sorry to anyone who has been impacted by this behaviour and felt unable to speak up at the time or that their complaint was not adequately addressed,” he added.