Ulrika Jonsson and Sir Rod Stewart are among those accusing Gregg Wallace of misconduct (Picture: BBC/Shutterstock)
Multiple celebrities have come forward with their allegations about Gregg Wallace after MasterChef’s producer launched an investigation.
Wallace, 60, has stepped down from the long-running BBC show while Banijay UK probes historical complaints of misconduct.
He has been hit with a string of allegations, including mimicking a sex act, walking into the MasterChef studio ‘completely naked except for a sock pulled over his penis’, taking his top off in front of a female co-worker and making lesbian and racist jokes.
Wallace’s lawyers told BBC News it is ‘entirely false’ he engages in a ‘behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.
Last night, as more allegations emerged, Wallace shared a clip on Instagram in which he addressed the scandal for the first time and thanked ‘all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support.’
Several high-profile figures have been among those accusing Wallace of misconduct. This is what they had to say.
Sir Rod Stewart
Sir Rod blasted Wallace as an ‘ill-mannered bully’ after his wife Penny competed on MasterChef (Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Sir Rod Stewart took to Instagram to accuse Wallace of ‘humiliating’ his wife Penny Lancaster on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021.
The Maggie May singer wrote: ‘So Greg Wallace gets fired from MasterChef.
‘Good riddance Wallace… You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you?
‘You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart.’
Charlotte Crosby
Charlotte claimed Wallace was ‘extremely unpleasant’ to her on Celebrity MasterChef (Picture: BBC)
Charlotte Crosby was a contestant on the most recent series of Celebrity MasterChef, which was won by Strictly’s Vito Coppola.
The Geordie Shore star, 34, described Wallace as ‘extremely unpleasant’ while she filmed the BBC show.
Charlotte commented on Sir Rod’s Instagram post: ‘He was extremely unpleasant to me when I was on MasterChef.’
Ulrika Jonsson
Ulrika claimed Wallace had to apologise after making a ‘rape joke’ (Picture: BBC)
Ulrika Jonsson told The Telegraph that when she competed on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017, Wallace allegedly had to apologise after making a ‘rape joke’, which caused another female contestant to become ‘really distressed.’
The Swedish-born TV personality, 57, did not hear the joke but said that when another contestant walked off the set, she was told what had occurred.
Ulrika also posted a photo of her MasterChef apron to her Instagram Story, writing: ‘Hopefully it will all come out in the wash.’
She followed up with statement saying: ‘Plenty of crew on set who would not dare to speak up for fear of losing their jobs.
Kirsty Wark
Wark accused Wallace of making ‘sexualised’ comments (Picture: BBC / MasterChef UK)
Former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark was among the 13 people who worked with Wallace across a variety of shows over a 17-year period who complained about his behaviour.
Kirsty,69, claimed Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a ‘sexualised nature’ in front of contestants and crew and that she felt they were ‘really, really in the wrong place’ when she was on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
Banijay declined to comment when contacted by Metro.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated”
‘Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.
‘It would be inappropriate for us to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay’s ongoing investigation or otherwise influence it.’
Metro has contacted Wallace’s rep for comment.
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