Gregg Wallace has faced historic accusations of misconduct which are being investigated by the production company behind MasterChef.
The 60-year-old presenter is facing multiple complaints about his behaviour, including allegations that he made “inappropriate sexual jokes” on set of the hit BBC show, as well as behind-the-scenes on other programmes he’s fronted.
“It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature,” a lawyer for the presenter said.
Here is a timeline of how the controversy has unfolded, including when the accusations date back to.
2005: First claims date back 19 years
BBC News spoke to more than 12 women regarding allegations about Wallace’s behaviour, and the earliest they date back to is 2005 – the year the presenter joined MasterChef.
A worker told BBC News that Wallace made sexually explicit remarks on set in 2005 and 2006.
2012: Author ‘complained about behaviour’
Author Emma Kennedy said she complained about Wallace to MasterChef’s production firm after he allegedly touched another woman’s bottom.
Kennedy, who won the seventh edition of Celebrity MasterChef, wrote on Threads: “I complained about behaviour I witnessed on MasterChef in 2012. They knew then. They knew before then and they’ve known since.”
She added that after filming, she “had a lengthy conversation with a member of the PR team on MC and the only topic of conversation was ‘when the problem with GW was going to come to light’.” “This was in 2012,” Kennedy added.
2014: BBC receives complaints after Strictly appearance
Wallace was paired with dancer Aliona Vilani on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and soon allegations surfaced about inappropriate behaviour, with some of his comments even caught on camera.
In one clip, Wallace says to Vilani: “I haven’t worn a pair of pants since I was about 17 years old.”
He then gestures to his crotch, prompting a visibly uncomfortable Vilani to ask, “You for real?”
The Sun reports that at least one member of the show made the situation clear to Strictly bosses and held meetings with them over his behaviour early on in the series.
But Wallace was still allowed to compete before he was eliminated in week two.
2014 and 2015: Producer ‘raised concerns’
Producer Georgia Harding, who worked on MasterChef between 2014 and 2015 and later 2015’s Eat Well For Less, claimed she raised concerns about “inappropriate” behaviour from Wallace while working on the show, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
She alleged the presenter undressed in front of colleagues and “made inappropriate sexual jokes” in front of the crew and people appearing on the shows.
2017: Celebrity MasterChef star flagged ‘unacceptable’ behaviour
Broadcaster Aasmah Mir, who appeared on the twelfth series of Celebrity MasterChef, reportedly complained in a letter about inappropriate comments Wallace allegedly made during filming.
After the letter was forwarded in November 2017 to BBC executive Kate Phillips, who now oversees unscripted programmes for the broadcaster, she said his behaviour on set was “unacceptable and cannot continue”, the Sunday Times reported.
She added she would make sure that she was “informed straightaway” if further allegations were made against Wallace.
Wallace also allegedly had to apologise after making a “rape joke” when filming series 12 of Celebrity MasterChef, which aired in 2017, which caused another female contestant to become “really distressed”.
Presenter Ulrika Jonsson, who competed in the series, recently also told The Telegraph she did not hear the joke but said that, when another contestant walked off the set, she was told what had occurred.
2018: Wallace received a warning
Wallace is said to have received another warning after a complaint was raised about his behaviour on the quiz show Impossible Celebrities.
A BBC probe at the time found his behaviour was “unacceptable and unprofessional”, and a 90-minute meeting was held between Wallace and Phillips, according to BBC News.
2019: Wallace ‘made comments to production staff’
Women who worked on Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends in 2019, which aired on Channel 5, recalled to BBC News recently that Wallace had made a number of inappropriate comments to staff members during production.
One woman said he reportedly talked about sex and said he was “fascinated” that she dated women and asked her the “logistics” of how it worked.
Another woman said Wallace allegedly showed her photos of a woman in her underwear while they were travelling in a car together.
Meanwhile, a third woman – who reportedly worked with the TV presenter on the BBC’s Eat Well For Less TV in 2019 – told the outlet that, after she went to his car to sort his parking ticket, he allegedly replied: “You can come to my car, but can you handle the fact everyone will think you just got off with a celebrity?”
2022: Producer sent letter to BBC
Producer and director Dawn Elrick claims to have sent the BBC a letter which accused Wallace of making lewd comments and asking for the personal phone numbers of female production staff.
Elrick told the Observer the letter had been submitted with the support of industry union Bectu and added she also submitted the allegations to the corporation via Navex Global, an external whistleblowing service.
She claimed the BBC suggested each individual would have to make their own, direct complaint to the corporation and said she had received no further contact with regard to the report.
November 28, 2024: Wallace steps away from MasterChef
It was announced Wallace is to step away from presenting MasterChef while complaints made to the BBC by individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated by the show’s production company, Banijay UK.
BBC News later reported that 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period had told them about allegations of inappropriate sexual comments by Wallace, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark.
In an Instagram post, Wallace thanked those who have been “reaching out and showing their support”.
Sir Rod Stewart posted on Instagram following the accusations, accusing Wallace of “humiliating” his wife Penny Lancaster on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021.
Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, who appeared on Celebrity MasterChef this year, commented on Sir Rod’s post, writing: “He was extremely unpleasant to me when I was on MasterChef.”
November 30, 2024: Production company starts investigation
Banijay UK announced it had appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to lead an investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
It was reported that Channel 5 had asked production company Rumpus Media to look into the accusations about Wallace during production of Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends.
Rumpus Media said: “We do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions. Our comprehensive duty-of-care processes were in place during production of these series and any matters raised would have been investigated in accordance with these.”
December 1, 2024: ‘Middle-class women of a certain age’ video
Wallace said accusations about him making sexual comments came from “middle-class women of a certain age” in a video posted to Instagram.
In another video, he claimed “absolutely none” of the people he had worked with on his shows had made a complaint about him.
This sparked a backlash, with former Celebrity MasterChef contestants Ulrika Jonsson, Kirstie Allsopp and Emma Kennedy among those who criticised his response and also gave accounts of their experiences.
December 2, 2024: Wallace ‘takes time out’
Downing Street branded Wallace’s response to the accusations being made against him as “inappropriate and misogynistic”.
It was announced that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had held talks with BBC bosses to address the Wallace row, according to the Prime Minister’s official spokesman.
Following the backlash, Wallace apologised for any “offence” or “upset” he caused with his remarks and said he will now “take some time out” while the investigation is underway.
He added: “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.”
December 3, 2024: BBC pulls Christmas MasterChef
Two MasterChef celebrity specials – a Cook-Off and a Strictly Extravaganza – will no longer air over the festive season, the BBC announced.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster stated: "As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.
"The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and, in the current circumstances, we have decided not to broadcast them."
December 4, 2024: more allegations surface
Ghostwriter Shannon Kyle, who was working on Wallace’s autobiography Life on a Plate, alleges she was sexually harassed by Wallace in 2012, including having her bottom touched and thigh rubbed.
The writer also claimed Wallace dropped his towel in front of her after she arrived at his home to work on the book.
Kyle claims she had signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before agreeing to write the book for Wallace.
The author said she was “worried about losing the job” so she decided to “try and push through”, adding: 'It was just really revolting”.
Wallace denies sexual misconduct.
December 5 2024: John Torode speaks out
Wallace’s MasterChef co-host John Torode addressed the misconduct allegations for the first time.
In a statement posted on Instagram, he explained he had been overseas for a few days. “The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear,” he said.
Torode added that he “fully” supports ongoing investigations but cannot comment further on the situation while they are ongoing.
