MasterChef Report Reveals Disturbing Allegations Against Gregg Wallace

A comprehensive report into the conduct of Gregg Wallace, the well-known presenter of the popular BBC show *MasterChef*, has upheld 45 allegations against him. The report, which was commissioned following a BBC News investigation, details a pattern of inappropriate behavior spanning nearly two decades.

The investigation, conducted by an independent law firm, stemmed from a BBC News investigation that first brought to light allegations of inappropriate sexual comments against Wallace. The report found that, among the 83 allegations made, the majority of the substantiated claims related to inappropriate sexual language and humor. The report also revealed instances of culturally insensitive and racist comments, along with one instance of unwelcome physical contact and three of being in a state of undress.

The report’s release comes after Wallace was reportedly sacked from his role as presenter of the cooking show, following further claims from dozens of individuals. Around 50 people have come forward to BBC News with their accounts, which span a wide array of productions and settings, including night clubs and awards ceremonies. Roughly 20 of the accounts relate to Banijay productions.

Wallace’s Response and the Autism Diagnosis

Ahead of the report’s release, Wallace stated that it had cleared him of the “most serious and sensational allegations.” However, the findings present a concerning picture of workplace conduct. During the investigation, Wallace was diagnosed with autism. The report noted that his neurodiversity should be taken into consideration when assessing his actions, while Wallace accepted that his diagnosis may help explain some of his actions.

This has led to criticism from autism charities and other groups working with disabled people, who expressed concerns that Wallace appeared to link his misconduct with his recent diagnosis.

Banijay and BBC Respond

Patrick Holland, chief executive of Banijay UK, acknowledged that escalation procedures were not as robust as they should have been in earlier years. He expressed deep regret for anyone impacted by Wallace’s behavior and for those who felt unable to speak up at the time or whose complaints were not adequately addressed.

The BBC has stated it accepts that more could and should have been done sooner to address the issues and that it has apologized to everyone affected. The broadcaster has confirmed that it has no plans to work with Wallace in the future.

The report also revealed ten standalone allegations against other individuals, two of which were substantiated. These substantiated allegations related to inappropriate language, one of swearing and one of racist language.