The BBC on Monday announced it will no longer work with longtime MasterChef host Gregg Wallace after a report upheld dozens of sexual misconduct allegations against him.
An independent legal investigation found that 45 of 83 allegations made against Wallace during his time on the show from 2005 to 2018 were substantiated. Most involved inappropriate sexual comments and humor, while some involved Wallace being in a state of undress and one instance of unwelcome physical contact.
The 60-year-old stepped away from MasterChef last year as multiple complaints surfaced. Despite previous warnings from his employers — including one in 2018 — Wallace continued to appear on BBC shows for years, raising questions about how the broadcaster handles misconduct allegations.
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The BBC admitted missed opportunities to address his behavior and said Wallace's return to MasterChef is “untenable.”
In a statement, Wallace denied the most serious claims but said, “Some of my humor and language missed the mark. I never set out to harm or humiliate.”
The UK government welcomed the BBC’s decision, calling for stronger protections against abuse in the creative industry.
Source: Agency