Baroness Helena Kennedy said the public might have enjoyed watching the cheeky chappy on TV but they had not seen his “uglier side” off screen
Gregg Wallace has been warned by a top barrister not to claim women are making things up about his behind-the-scenes antics.
Baroness Helena Kennedy said the public might have enjoyed watching the cheeky chappy on TV but they had not seen his “uglier side” off screen.
The lawyer, who chairs a watchdog aimed at improving standards of behaviour in the creative industries, advised him against dismissing women’s claims after he was sacked from MasterChef.
Her warning came amid a raft of lewd language and groping claims against the 60-year-old.
She said: “There may be an opportunity for you to make a comeback at some point.
“But don’t say that all of these women have made this stuff up and don’t say that it’s all invented.”
She said his alleged misconduct “should’ve never been acceptable” after the TV presenter was sacked by MasterChef production company Banijay UK.
Wallace had stepped back from hosting the BBC cooking show last year after a number of historical complaints came to light.
The latest claims include allegations he groped one MasterChef worker and pulled his trousers down in front of another.
Wallace said in an Instagram post that he had been cleared of the “most serious and sensational accusations” against him ahead of the report into his alleged misconduct.
But the former greengrocer added that he recognised some of his humour and language was inappropriate “at times” and apologised for this.
Philippa Childs, head of broadcast union Bectu, also warned Wallace not to “gaslight” women who have made claims against him.
She said his reaction on Instagram “caused a reaction from freelancers” worried that “once again something is going to be brushed under the carpet”.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
