Gregg Wallace has been accused of walking into a TV studio naked except for a sock covering his privates.
MasterChef presenter Wallace has stepped away from presenting MasterChef as historical allegations of misconduct are being investigated, the show’s production company has said. The 60-year-old has denied making inappropriate sexual comments towards women and told The Mirror he was “fully cooperating” with the investigation. He did not make any further comment.
He has been accused by 13 people of making inappropriate sexual comments across several shows over a 17-year period. This includes ex-Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, who alleges he told jokes of a “sexualised nature” on two occasions when she was a contestant on MasterChef in 2011.
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The Telegraph have also reported that Wallace allegedly mimicked a sex act with a former member of the production team. The presenter allegedly held the head of the staff member and thrust his body towards her when she was knelt down in front of him to clean a mark off his trousers.
It is also claimed that Wallace once walked into the MasterChef studio “completely naked except for a sock” covering his genitals before doing a “silly dance”.
A witness who claims to have seen the alleged incidents also told The Telegraph that Mr Wallace was “very touchy feely” and made “disgusting sex-related jokes”.
(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
Banijay UK, MasterChef’s production company, said it was conducting “an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate” the claims made against the presenter.
It said: “While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process.”
The company said Wallace is “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process”. A statement read: “This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.
“Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process.
(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
Wallace was warned by the BBC after a complaint against him was raised in 2018. Wallace’s lawyers have claimed it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
A BBC spokesman 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.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
