The BBC announced on July 14, 2025, that it would terminate its relationship with Gregg Wallace, a prominent figure on its cooking show "MasterChef," after an investigation confirmed several sexual misconduct allegations against him. The inquiry, which lasted seven months and was carried out by the law firm Lewis Silkin, involved interviews with 78 witnesses and examined events spanning from 2005 to 2024.
Out of 83 allegations made, 45 were validated, including reports of Mr. Wallace being "in a state of undress" and engaging in unwelcome physical interactions. While many complaints pertained to "inappropriate sexual language and humor," the investigation also highlighted concerns regarding culturally and racially insensitive remarks.
According to a statement from Banijay, the production company behind "MasterChef," the weight and consistency of substantiated claims rendered Mr. Wallace's return to the show "untenable." The long-time host has publicly denied many of these allegations. In a now-deleted Instagram post, he acknowledged that his humor and language may have been inappropriate at times but asserted that he was being unfairly depicted. He emphasized that he had been initially cast for his "cheeky greengrocer" persona, which, in today's "sanitized world," has led to misunderstandings about his character.
Out of 83 allegations made, 45 were validated, including reports of Mr. Wallace being "in a state of undress" and engaging in unwelcome physical interactions. While many complaints pertained to "inappropriate sexual language and humor," the investigation also highlighted concerns regarding culturally and racially insensitive remarks.
According to a statement from Banijay, the production company behind "MasterChef," the weight and consistency of substantiated claims rendered Mr. Wallace's return to the show "untenable." The long-time host has publicly denied many of these allegations. In a now-deleted Instagram post, he acknowledged that his humor and language may have been inappropriate at times but asserted that he was being unfairly depicted. He emphasized that he had been initially cast for his "cheeky greengrocer" persona, which, in today's "sanitized world," has led to misunderstandings about his character.
