BBC confirms 50 news claims against Gregg Wallace as he vows: ‘I will not go quietly’
The 60-year-old stepped away from MasterChef last year.
Gregg Wallace has been sacked by the BBC after 50 more people approached the corporation with fresh claims about the TV presenter.
The former MasterChef star took to Instagram earlier today to claim he had been cleared of ‘the most serious and sensational accusations’ ahead of the Silkins report being officially released.
In a scathing post against the BBC, Wallace wrote on social media: ‘I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others’.
Now, however, BBC News has revealed that following a nine-month sexual misconduct investigation Wallace has been fired from the corporation after there were allegations that he groped one MasterChef worker and pulled his trousers down in front of another. Wallace denies the claims.
Last year the 60-year-old confirmed he was stepping away from MasterChef amid an external review into historical allegations of sexual misconduct.
He faced accusations of making ‘inappropriate sexual jokes’ and lewd comments on set, asking for the phone numbers of female members of production staff, and undressing in front of and standing ‘too close’ to women working on his shows.
The 60-year-old has made a statement following reports that he has been sacked by the BBC (Picture: BBC)Wallace and his lawyers have fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.
Writing on social media, Wallace said earlier today: ‘After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.
‘I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.
‘The most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.
‘My decision to go public now is also driven by the fact the BBC News division are intending to platform legally unsafe accusations, including claims which have already been investigated and not upheld by the BBC and found not credible by Silkins.’
Wallace continued: ‘To be clear, the Silkin’s Report exonerates me of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds me primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018.
Wallace and his lawyers have fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false’ (Picture: Dave Bennett)‘I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.’
According to BBC News, one woman – Alice – says Wallace took his trousers down in front of her in a dressing room, in what she described as ‘disgusting and predatory’ behaviour.]
However, despite raising concerns she was reportedly told by a senior member of Shine’s production team: “You’re over 16, you’re not being ‘Jimmy Saviled’.”
A source for The Sun claimed that Gregg is ‘both furious and devastated about how things have played out’.
They said: ‘His team have seen the report and believe he is cleared of the most serious wrongdoing allegations, so he has taken great consolation from that.
‘Whilst he is not excusing his inappropriate comments and innuendos – some of which he has been found against – on his recent autism diagnosis, this has been a mitigating factor.
‘He has also been cleared of some of the higher profile allegations… but the BBC has made it clear there is no way back for him. He is devastated.
A source has claimed that Gregg is ‘furious’ about how things have played out with the BBC (Picture: BBC)‘There have been so many people involved in all of this and obviously everyone, bar Gregg who now has nothing to lose, has a vested interest in protecting the money-spinning Masterchef brand.’
MasterChef was thrown into turmoil last year when it was alleged Wallace groped three people in different incidents, that he ‘mimicked sex acts’ and walked around the studio almost ‘completely naked’, with more than 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year-period making complaints.
It was also claimed that he sexually harassed his ghost-writer with ‘thigh rubs’, while several women spoke out, including Ulrika Jonsson and Kirsty Wark.
Wallace and his lawyers have denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.
Following the first of the accusations, Wallace put out a statement on social media claiming they come from ‘middle-class women of a certain age’.
The inquiry into allegations against Wallace are being conducted by an independent law firm on behalf of MasterChef’s production company Banijay and it is expected back imminently.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace.
‘We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
