BBC confirms 50 news claims against Gregg Wallace as he vows: ‘I will not go quietly’

MasterChef S19,31-05-2023,Finals Week 2, Gregg Wallace, Shine TV,Production
Former MasterChef star Gregg Wallace has slammed the BBC in a social media post (Picture: BBC/Shine TV)

Gregg Wallace has condemned the BBC in a scathing social media post following reports that he has been fired after a nine-month sexual misconduct investigation.

The former MasterChef star took to Instagram to say that he was going public before the Silkins report was published as ‘I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others’.

He also claimed that he had been cleared of ‘the most serious and sensational accusations’.

Last year the 60-year-old confirmed he was stepping away from MasterChef amid an external review into historical allegations of sexual misconduct.

He faced accusations of making ‘inappropriate sexual jokes’ and lewd comments on set, asking for the phone numbers of female members of production staff, and undressing in front of and standing ‘too close’ to women working on his shows.

Wallace and his lawyers have fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.

Masterchef Gregg Wallace faces numerous allegations of inappropriate behaviour
The 60-year-old has made a statement following reports that he has been sacked by the BBC (Picture: BBC)

Now, according to The Sun, Wallace says he has been left ‘furious and devastated’ by the BBC’s decision to axe him.

Writing on social media, he said: ‘After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.

‘I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.

‘The most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.

‘My decision to go public now is also driven by the fact the BBC News division are intending to platform legally unsafe accusations, including claims which have already been investigated and not upheld by the BBC and found not credible by Silkins.’

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Gregg Wallace attends the 5th annual Boisdale Life Editor's Lunch & Awards at Boisdale of Canary Wharf on July 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Wallace and his lawyers have fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false’ (Picture: Dave Bennett)

Wallace continued: ‘To be clear, the Silkin’s Report exonerates me of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds me primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018.

‘I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.’

A source for The Sun claimed that Gregg is ‘both furious and devastated about how things have played out’.

They said: ‘His team have seen the report and believe he is cleared of the most serious wrongdoing allegations, so he has taken great consolation from that.

‘Whilst he is not excusing his inappropriate comments and innuendos – some of which he has been found against – on his recent autism diagnosis, this has been a mitigating factor.

‘He has also been cleared of some of the higher profile allegations… but the BBC has made it clear there is no way back for him. He is devastated.

Melanie Sykes, Celebrity Masterchef 2021 (Picture: BBC)
A source has claimed that Gregg is ‘furious’ about how things have played out with the BBC (Picture: BBC)

‘There have been so many people involved in all of this and obviously everyone, bar Gregg who now has nothing to lose, has a vested interest in protecting the money-spinning Masterchef brand.’

MasterChef was thrown into turmoil last year when it was alleged Wallace groped three people in different incidents, that he ‘mimicked sex acts’ and walked around the studio almost ‘completely naked’, with more than 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year-period making complaints.

It was also claimed that he sexually harassed his ghost-writer with ‘thigh rubs’, while several women spoke out, including Ulrika Jonsson and Kirsty Wark.

Wallace and his lawyers have denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.

Following the first of the accusations, Wallace put out a statement on social media claiming they come from ‘middle-class women of a certain age’.

Metro has contacted BBC for comment.

More to follow.

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