Gregg Wallace has been officially dismissed as the presenter of BBC’s MasterChef following an investigation conducted by production company Banijay, BBC News reports. The 60-year-old had previously stepped away from the popular cooking competition last year amid a series of historical complaints.
New allegations surfaced from over 50 individuals, including claims that Wallace groped a MasterChef staff member and exposed himself by pulling down his trousers in front of another colleague. Additional accusations include a university student alleging that he reached under her skirt and pinched her bottom at a nightclub, and a junior worker who claimed he dropped his trousers without underwear on, BBC News revealed.
Production firm Banijay stated that Wallace was “committed to fully cooperating” with the external review. Meanwhile, Wallace’s legal team has firmly denied any sexually harassing behavior. Although BBC News has not yet seen the final report from Banijay, sources indicate that the presenter has been terminated from his role.
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Earlier on the same day, Wallace posted a statement on Instagram asserting that he had been cleared of the “most serious and sensational accusations” ahead of the official findings. He vowed not to be “cancelled for convenience,” expressing frustration at being tried by media before the facts were established. Wallace insists that the full truth will emerge and that the matter is one of public interest.
Wallace rose to fame from his early days as a greengrocer to becoming a leading figure on BBC cooking shows, including MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, Inside The Factory, and Supermarket Secrets.
Despite ongoing allegations, the most recent season of MasterChef: The Professionals aired last year. However, two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials were removed from the BBC schedule in December 2024. In response, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy pledged to introduce stricter standards in the creative industries.
A BBC spokesperson commented: “Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to conduct an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. We will not provide further comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are released.”
Banijay UK declined to respond publicly to Wallace’s statements.