The BBC has rejected calls to pull Gregg Wallace from its scheduled programmes as the MasterChef presenter apologised for dismissing his accusers as “middle class women of a certain age”.
Downing Street waded into the row by criticising Wallace’s defence of his behaviour as “misogynistic”. It came amid mounting pressure on the BBC to take Wallace off air while allegations about sexual comments and inappropriate touching by the 60-year-old are investigated.
But the BBC insisted the three programmes fronted by Wallace will be shown as planned this week. And a MasterChef Christmas special – which the BBC promised would contain “great banter” in a press release last month, will also go ahead.
After Monday’s episode, a BBC spokesperson said: “MasterChef is life-changing for the chefs that take part and the show is about more than one individual.”
Wallace apologised for “any offence caused” by claiming in a Instagram video posted on Sunday that the only people who have complained about his sexual jokes were “middle-class women of a certain age”.
He said on Monday: “I wasn’t in a good headspace when I posted it, I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it.”
Wallace stepped back from his role on MasterChef last week while allegations of past misconduct – including three of inappropriate touching – are investigated by Banijay, the programme’s production company.
The review will be conducted by the law firm Lewis Silkin, Banijay has confirmed. Wallace’s lawyers have said he has denied any sexually harassing behaviour.
In his apology video, Wallace said: “It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out, now, while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology.”
On Monday afternoon a spokesperson for the BBC said three final programmes in the current season of MasterChef: the Professionals, presented by Wallace, will be shown as planned on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. “Filmed episodes will go ahead as planned,” they said.
The decision disappointed those who have called for Wallace to be taken off air.
Elizabeth Gardiner, the chief executive at the whistleblowing charity Protect, said: “An employer who is taking the investigation seriously should think about the impact on those who have come forward. ‘The show must go on’ may be seen as undermining positive statements about values and accountability.”
She added: “We don’t know the full picture here, but there are circumstances where it is important that the employer is seen to act in order to protect the victims and key witnesses. The steps that are taken now are going to determine whether people are willing to speak up in the future or stay silent.”
Juanita Hennessey, a MasterChef finalist in 2016, said she had a positive experience on the show but the programmes should be postponed.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World at One, she said: “You don’t want to be disrespectful to the [alleged] victims … I think it needs to be at least paused while the investigation takes place and then maybe it can be aired at a later date once the investigation has been finished.”
Asked about the Wallace row on Monday, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Clearly the comments we have seen from the individual over the weekend were completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”
The Labour MP Rupa Huq, who sits on the culture, media and sport committee, urged the BBC to consider pulling the programme. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said such a move would “send a strong message that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable”.
She said that if the programmes are broadcast they “could be massively triggering for the women involved. In fact, any woman involved in any type of similar incident.”
Philippa Childs, the head of media and entertainment union Bectu, said: “Coverage of the Gregg Wallace allegations and wider issues will be very upsetting for many film and TV workers. His interventions over the last few days have compounded the stress and anger felt by many Bectu members and other industry workers, and seeing MasterChef broadcast as normal in this environment feels incongruous. The BBC should consider whether it is appropriate to air episodes of MasterChef at this time.
“But such a question underscores the urgent need for broadcasters and the industry to drive meaningful and long-term change in the way they currently deal with and act on complaints of inappropriate behaviour.”
