- Gregg Wallace denies sex comment allegations
- Allegations date back to 2018 TV show
- BBC investigates, reaffirms zero-tolerance policy
Gregg Wallace, the well-known host of MasterChef, has firmly denied allegations of making inappropriate sexual comments to a female colleague. The claims surfaced in a report by The Sun, which detailed accusations that Wallace had removed his shirt and boasted about his sex life during his time on the panel show Impossible Celebrities in 2018.
In an Instagram story posted on Monday, Wallace clarified that the incident had been investigated at the time, resulting in the finding that he “hadn’t said anything sexual.”
The BBC, where Wallace has been a prominent figure, stated that it does not tolerate “any form of inappropriate behaviour” and has established “robust processes” to address such issues.
An unnamed source cited by The Sun claimed that Wallace had made “consistent inappropriate comments” to a younger colleague while working on the show. According to the source, Wallace believed his remarks were merely light-hearted banter and had even made comments in front of a live audience, discussing his sex life with his partner at the time. The source added, “The team working on the show were mortified and told BBC top brass what had happened.”
In his first Instagram story, Wallace reiterated, “This story was investigated promptly when it happened six years ago by the BBC and the outcome of that was that I hadn’t said anything sexual. Do I need to repeat this again? I didn’t say anything sexual. Thank you for your time.”
In a subsequent post, he emphasized his commitment to his wife, Anna, stating, “Nobody six years ago accused me of flirting with anybody or hitting on anybody. The reason I say this is because of my wife Anna. I have always been true to my wife Anna.” He went on to assert that he had “never flirted or hit on anybody” during their twelve-year marriage, stressing the importance of this clarification.
Gregg Wallace is primarily recognized for his role as a co-presenter on MasterChef. The allegations come at a challenging time for the BBC, which has faced scrutiny over several high-profile conduct issues. Earlier this year, former senior news presenter Huw Edwards received a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to child sex abuse image offenses. Additionally, Jermaine Jenas, who presented The One Show and appeared on Match of the Day, was dismissed from the BBC following complaints regarding his workplace conduct.
A BBC spokesperson commented, “Whilst we do not comment on individuals, if issues are raised they are dealt with swiftly and appropriately at the time. We do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behaviour and have robust processes in place.”
