BBC cuts ties with MasterChef star Gregg Wallace as report substantiates 45 out of 83 allegations
The BBC has permanently severed ties with Gregg Wallace following an independent investigation that substantiated 45 out of 83 allegations against the former MasterChef presenter.
The corporation confirmed that Wallace’s “return to ‘MasterChef’ is untenable” and stated it has “no plans to work with him in future.”
The decision ends Wallace’s 20-year tenure on the flagship culinary competition series. The investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin examined claims spanning 19 years, from 2005 to present.
“This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us,” the BBC said in a statement released this morning. The corporation described the findings as detailing “a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct.”
The Lewis Silkin report found that the “majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour.” A smaller number of allegations concerning other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also upheld.
One incident of “unwelcome physical contact” was substantiated. The report noted that 94% of the allegations related to behaviour occurring between 2005 and 2018, with only one allegation substantiated after 2018.
The investigation began after Wallace stepped down from MasterChef in November 2024 following initial allegations from 13 people. The situation escalated when BBC News revealed that 50 new accusers had come forward, including 11 women who alleged inappropriate sexual behaviour such as groping and touching.
The report noted that Wallace was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder during the seven-month investigation period. The findings should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity, according to the report.
Wallace, who was interviewed for 14 hours across three sessions, posted a combative statement on Instagram claiming vindication. “I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience,” he declared, whilst acknowledging the report found him “primarily guilty of inappropriate language” between 2005 and 2018.
“I recognise that some of my humor and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologize without reservation,” Wallace wrote. He had previously sparked controversy by claiming in a December video that complaints came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.”
The BBC acknowledged institutional failures in addressing Wallace’s behaviour. “Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running ‘MasterChef’ and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner,” the corporation stated.
Banijay UK chief executive Patrick Holland said the report “makes for uncomfortable reading, highlighting failures in legacy reporting and HR procedures.” He noted that “in earlier years, specifically prior to 2016 where the vast majority of these issues arose, it is clear that escalation procedures were not as robust as they should have been.”
“We are extremely sorry to anyone who has been impacted by this behaviour and felt unable to speak up at the time or that their complaint was not adequately addressed,” Holland added.
The future of MasterChef remains uncertain following Wallace’s departure. The BBC stated it has not yet made a final decision on broadcasting a series filmed last year, acknowledging this is “disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part.”
The investigation also upheld two additional allegations relating to other individuals, which the BBC says it is taking “very seriously.” The corporation has asked Banijay UK to address these issues as a priority.
At a London media dinner last week, Patrick Holland addressed broader industry concerns about workplace culture. “We need to do all we can to ensure everyone in production in the most junior roles feels confident to call out bad behaviour,” Holland said, noting that “the culture of television in my mind has changed dramatically in the last 20 years.”