Gregg Wallace breaks silence after MasterChef star forced to resign over ‘sexual comments about 13 colleagues’

GREGG Wallace has broken his silence after quitting MasterChef amid allegations he made “sexual comments to 13 colleagues”.

The presenter, 60, thanked people for “showing their support” after he was accused of imitating a sex act in front of horrified colleagues as he faces a new wave of allegations.

8

8

8

Gregg said in an Instagram video: “I would like to thank everyone who has reached out to me, reached out and shown their support.

“That’s nice of you, thank you very much.”

His mother, Mary Pettman, also told the Mail that Gregg was “fine” amid the investigation.

The 81-year-old said today: “He’s doing well. I speak to my son quite regularly and he’s doing well.”

On the investigation and when Gregg will return to MasterChef, she added: “I have no idea what it is about. You’ll have to talk to him.”

It comes after the presenter resigned from his role as a MasterChef judge following the launch of an investigation into alleged ‘sexual comments’.

Today, a new wave of allegations was reported by the Daily Telegraph.

The BBC also revealed that 13 people, including Newsnight host Kirsty Walk, had accused him of “inappropriate behavior” over a 17-year period on five shows, from 2005 to 2022.

These include claims that Gregg held a MasterChef colleague’s head and pushed himself towards her while she knelt in front of him to clean a mark on his pants.

He is also accused of entering the MasterChef studio “completely naked except for a sock pulled over his penis” before doing a “silly dance”, reports the Telegraph – which spoke to a witness about the incident.

Gregg’s lawyers told the BBC that it was completely false to claim he engaged in sexually harassing behavior.

The Telegraph’s investigation was launched after the alleged victim made a formal complaint to the BBC.

The complaint further alleged that the presenter was “very touchy” and made “disgusting jokes about sex.”

Banijay UK, which makes the hit BBC cooking show, said it was conducting “an immediate external review to investigate thoroughly and impartially”.

A spokesperson said: “While this review is ongoing, Gregg Wallace will leave his role at MasterChef and is committed to cooperating fully throughout the process.

“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations for behavior are made clear to cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways to raise concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.

“While these are historical allegations, incidents brought to our attention where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and handled appropriately.”

A BBC spokesperson added: “We take all issues reported to us seriously and have robust processes in place to resolve them. We are always clear that any behavior that does not meet the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.

8

8

8

“When someone is hired directly by an external production company, we share any complaints or concerns with that company and will always support them when responding to them.”

Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals with Gregg will still air as planned despite the development.

It comes after the MasterChef co-host was seen smiling outside his Kent home today.

Gregg was first accused of making “inappropriate sexual comments” to a BBC employee on Impossible Celebrities.

Some 13 people who worked with the presenter on various shows over a 17-year period have now accused him of making sexual comments, the BBC confirmed today.

---

It comes like…

• Gregg Wallace resigned from MasterChef today
• Star under investigation after allegedly making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues
• He was forced to resign amid the BBC’s investigation into his alleged behavior.
• BBC Newsnight presenter and 2011 contestant Kirsty Wark says Wallace told ‘sexualised’ jokes during filming
• Gregg accused of speaking openly about his sex life, taking off his top in front of a young employee and telling another he wasn’t wearing pants
• Previous episodes of MasterChef presented by the hit Gregg, still on iPlayer
• MasterChef star Aasmah Mir shares cryptic message ‘Always keep your receipts’
• The BBC will still air two festive Masterchef specials this Christmas – although both will be fronted by Gregg Wallace

---

BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, who said she told “sexualised” jokes while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, is one of the complainants.

The channel said it believed the comments were “really, really in the wrong place.”

Times Radio presenter and Celebrity MasterChef 2017 contestant Aasmah Mir today posted a cryptic message after the news broke, saying: “Always keep your receipts.”

Other allegations include Gregg speaking openly about his sex life, taking off his top in front of a young employee and telling another young colleague he wasn’t wearing pants.

BBC News today confirmed it launched an investigation into Gregg this summer following allegations relating to five shows between 2005 and 2022.

Gregg’s lawyers have called the latest claims false, but the MasterChef host has been asked to step down from the hit cooking series while a separate investigation is carried out.

The Sun told how Gregg found himself in a sticky situation with BBC bosses in 2018 for taking off his top and bragging about his antics.

He was taken to a meeting, accused of making “inappropriate sexual comments” to a female employee on the BBC game show Impossible Celebrities.

Then, in 2023, he was accused of being rude to women while working on the BBC’s Inside The Factory.

After the complaints were filed, Gregg admitted to making the comments but denied they were sexual in nature.

He also stressed that he loved his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini, whom he married in 2016.

The TV star said: “Referring to what is in the papers, these allegations were the subject of a BBC investigation six years ago.

“These allegations were under investigation six years ago and my comments were not of a sexual nature.

“I repeat, not sexual. Thank you all for your time.

“I don’t want anyone to misunderstand this and make it seem like I was flirting with anyone. No one has accused me of this and I never have.”

Gregg has presented MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005 and also hosts the Celebrity spin-offs MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.

He was also the original presenter of Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has appeared on Eat Well For Less and Supermarket Secrets.

Gregg took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

It follows a series of scandals which have plagued the BBC, including Huw Edwards’ child sex crimes and the Strictly Come Dancing bullying investigation.

8

8