Gregg Wallace was ‘forced to apologise for rape joke’ years before quitting MasterChef over ‘sexual comments to staff’
GREGG Wallace was allegedly forced to apologise for joking about rape years before quitting MasterChef over claims he made sexual comments to colleagues.
The presenter, 60, has stepped down from the hugely popular BBC1 show following complaints from 13 people about historical allegations, including former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark.
It comes six weeks after The Sun revealed Wallace was warned over “inappropriate sexual comments” he made on another BBC show, Impossible Celebrities.
Following our article, several people contacted The Sun to speak about their unpleasant experiences with the presenter.
One woman accused him of cracking a joke about rape during filming for MasterChef in 2017.
She said: “Gregg was accused of using inappropriate language while the cameras were on.
“He was also accused of making a joke about rape and someone raised a complaint.
“Gregg was then told to apologise about what he’d said. It was incredibly awkward and then it just moved on and no one talked about it again.”
It was also claimed last night that Wallace wandered naked into the MasterChef studio with a sock pulled over his privates.
The telly presenter’s career was hanging by a thread after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
One witness claimed Wallace came into the MasterChef studios starkers apart from a strategically placed sock before performing a “silly dance”.
They alleged that he was “very touchy-feely” and made “disgusting sex-related jokes”.
The ex-market trader — who has presented MasterChef since 2005 — is also accused of mimicking a sex act in front of a crew member.
The show’s production company Banijay UK yesterday confirmed an external investigation had been launched, with which Wallace and the BBC are “fully cooperating”.
BBC News — which runs independently of the BBC — said it had received complaints about Wallace dating from 2005 to 2022.
Ms Wark claims on two occasions Wallace told stories and jokes of a “sexualised nature” in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
She said that his jokes and comments were “really, really in the wrong place”.
She added: “I think people were uncomfortable. We were essentially a captive audience.
“People looked embarrassed and just got on with their work. I was actually more angry than anything else, because I thought it was so inappropriate.”
Wallace has also been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker, saying he wanted to “give her a fashion show”, and openly discussing his sex life.
On one occasion he allegedly informed a junior female colleague that he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans.
Wallace’s lawyers say it is “entirely false” that he engages in sexually harassing behaviour.
Production company Banijay UK yesterday confirmed he will be “stepping away” from the show.
It said: “This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.
“While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions.”
The Sun also revealed previously how industry trade union Bectu have been investigating allegations about him for more than a year.
Wallace — married to Anne-Marie Sterpini — hit back, claiming: “The allegations were investigated six years ago and my comments were found to be not sexual. I repeat, not sexual. Thank you everybody for your time.”
Following our article, we also received two threatening letters from his lawyers, claiming our reporting was “misleading and defamatory”.
Last year Wallace stepped down from another BBC show, Inside The Factory, amid allegations he was “rude to staff and continued to talk in a derogatory manner, especially to women.”
He is the latest BBC star to face allegations of misconduct, and comes in the wake of multiple scandals.
Last night an insider told The Sun: “Of course, these are tricky times but full transparency, speed of action and collaboration are imperative — and this is precisely what the BBC is doing.
“All due processes are being adhered to, and the BBC is fully contributing to the investigation to the extent it has already handed over evidence.
“The corporation has learned its lessons from the past, and the key concerns now are the welfare of anyone who has had a less than positive experience.
“It’s really important people feel able to speak out against its top stars.”
In the wake of the latest allegations, Wallace broke his silence tonight.
The presenter thanked people for “showing their support” as he faces a fresh wave of allegations.
Gregg said in an Instagram video: “I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reach out and showing their support.
“That’s good of you, thank you very much.”
His mother, Mary Pettman also told the Mail Gregg is “fine” amid the probe.
The 81-year-old said today: “He’s fine. I speak to my son quite regularly and he is fine.”
Of the investigation and when Gregg will return to MasterChef, she added: “I have no idea what it’s about. You will have to speak to him.”
Meanwhile, Gregg’s co-star John Torode is yet to publicly comment, after previously distancing himself from Wallace, saying in a podcast: “We’ve never been friends”.
Yesterday the BBC said in a statement: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
“We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”
It is yet another deeply awkward scenario for the BBC — and comes in the wake of the Huw Edwards’ child-sex images scandal.
There are also comparisons to the recent Strictly furore after Giovanni Pernice was forced to step down as an inquiry was launched into his alleged misconduct.
He was eventually cleared of intimidating or aggressive behaviour.
It also follows the sacking of Match of the Day pundit Jermaine Jenas after two women came forward complaining that he had texted them inappropriately.
The BBC said it will not pull already recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals which will air, as planned, next month.