Gregg Wallace Faces Stern Warning Amid Misconduct Allegations: “Don’t Say Women Made It Up”

Renowned television presenter Gregg Wallace has been strongly advised by Baroness Helena Kennedy, a prominent senior barrister and chair of a watchdog for the creative industries, against dismissing the claims of misconduct made against him by women. This warning comes as an inquiry into allegations of inappropriate behavior, conducted by an independent law firm on behalf of MasterChef’s production company Banijay, is nearing its conclusion. Wallace, who has denied the allegations, recently stated that the inquiry had cleared him of the “most serious and sensational allegations.”

The advice from Baroness Kennedy follows reports that an additional 50 people have contacted BBC News with claims against the 60-year-old presenter, adding to the existing accusations. Wallace, a familiar face on British television for two decades as the host of BBC One’s MasterChef, was reportedly sacked from his role as a result of the ongoing inquiry.

In a candid interview with Newsnight, Baroness Kennedy suggested that while the public may have enjoyed Wallace’s “cheeky chappy” persona, they had not witnessed his “uglier side.” She emphasized the importance of acknowledging the accusers’ stories, stating, “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.” Kennedy also criticized industry managers for failing to address concerns about the presenter’s behavior promptly, asserting that they have a responsibility to intervene early when employees exhibit inappropriate conduct.

Adding to the pressure, Philippa Childs, head of the broadcast union Bectu, issued a separate warning to Wallace, urging him not to “gaslight” women who have come forward with allegations. Childs revealed that Bectu has received “further revelations” about the presenter from more individuals. She expressed concern that Wallace’s public statements, including his Instagram post where he claimed to be “exonerated from some of the more serious claims” and accused the BBC of “peddling baseless and sensationalised gossip,” could be perceived as dismissive of legitimate complaints.

Childs highlighted the prevailing fear among freelancers in the industry regarding career repercussions for speaking out, underscoring the need for the industry to implement robust safeguarding measures. The new claims involve a range of alleged misconduct, with most accusers reporting inappropriate sexual comments. Notably, 11 women accuse Wallace of more severe inappropriate sexual behavior, including groping and touching. One woman recounted an incident where Wallace allegedly exposed himself in a dressing room, describing it as “disgusting and predatory.” Another individual shared an experience of feeling “absolutely horrified” and “quite sick” after Wallace allegedly groped her.

The allegations extend to incidents as far back as 2002, with claims including Wallace allegedly placing his hand on a woman’s groin during a dinner and asking, “Do you like that?” Other accusations involve him allegedly reaching under a student’s skirt and pinching her bottom after she asked for a photo, and groping a woman by putting his hand up her dress at an industry ball. More recent claims include a 19-year-old MasterChef worker’s complaint about Wallace’s comments regarding her body in 2022, and a former policeman’s attempt to raise concerns about Wallace’s sexually inappropriate language with the BBC in 2023. Several men also reported witnessing Wallace making inappropriate sexual comments.

These revelations raise significant questions about the safeguarding practices and duty of care employed by the BBC and other companies Wallace has worked with. In his Instagram post, Wallace defended himself, stating that the “most damaging claims” were found to be baseless after a six-month investigation, and criticized the media for establishing guilt before facts were proven. Banijay UK has stated they will not comment on individual allegations while the external investigation is ongoing, encouraging anyone with concerns to come forward confidentially. The BBC has confirmed that an investigation was commissioned by Banijay UK, with the law firm Lewis Silkin appointed to conduct it, and stated they would not comment until the investigation is complete and findings are published.

If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line.