The report, commissioned by MasterChef producers Banijay and overseen by the law firm Lewis Silkin, will heap pressure on BBC TV bosses, who face questions over a collective failure to tackle Wallace’s conduct over two decades.
The majority of substantiated allegations related to “inappropriate sexual language and humour.”
However the report also found two substantiated allegations relating to inappropriate language made against two other unnamed MasterChef figures. The upheld complaints, which occurred between 2012 and 2019, included one of swearing and one of racist language.
The BBC said in a statement: “The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years. This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.
The BBC confirmed it has told Wallace it has “no plans to work with him in the future.” His positions as MasterChef presenter was “untenable.”
Wallace has admitted some allegations heard by the inquiry, such as opening his dressing room door and shouting “hooray” while naked except for a sock on his penis.
The summary raises questions about the BBC’s failure to tackle concerns about Wallace.
The report found that “there was no consolidated or centrally held information within the BBC on concerns raised with the broadcaster resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.”
square ALISON PHILLIPS Gregg Wallace is a repellent fool - but he has a point about the BBC
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The presenter initially stepped aside from MasterChef last November after 13 people accused him of making inappropriate sexual comments over a 17-year period.
Several said they feared complaints about Wallace would be brushed off or damage their career prospects in a TV industry reliant on freelance workers.
The report found that freelance staff in particular often felt unable to raise issues due to concerns of potential impact on future employment.
The report said: “Mr Wallace’s persona (often described as energetic, humorous, and generally able to put contestants at ease) contributed to the show’s success.
“Sometimes other people who were present laughed along. Occasionally these comments were called out in the moment by people who heard them, but very often they were not.”
“Many contestants spoke about feeling uncomfortable or offended by certain jokes made by Mr Wallace and/or his behaviour, yet they accepted that their reactions in the moment would not have conveyed this distress to him, or to others.
“Witnesses who were contestants reported that the fact that they were being filmed at the time of the interactions, and their desire to do well in the competition, meant that they were unlikely to complain or allow their reactions to show.”
The BBC said: “In light of these findings, Banijay UK and the BBC have agreed Mr Wallace’s return to MasterChef is untenable.”
“Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.
The BBC added: “Lewis Silkin’s findings include two further allegations which were upheld, relating to other individuals. The BBC takes these findings very seriously and we have asked Banijay UK to take action to address these issues, which is underway. This will be completed as a priority.”
Patrick Holland, CEO Banijay UK said: “Whilst acknowledging Mr Wallace’s autism diagnosis, which is relevant to certain behaviours identified in the report and accepting that the production could have done more to identify, manage and communicate patterns of inappropriate behaviour, the volume and consistency of substantiated allegations, ranging between 2005 and 2024, make Gregg Wallace’s return to MasterChef untenable.”
Holland added: “We are extremely sorry to anyone who has been impacted by this behaviour and felt unable to speak up at the time or that their complaint was not adequately addressed.”
BBC News reported that 50 more people had come forward since November to make complaints, including accusations from 11 women of inappropriate sexual behaviour, such as groping and touching. Several of those people had also spoken to the Silkin review.
The BBC is thought to have run its own investigation into claims about Wallace after asking complainants to come forward in November.
Claire Powell, head of compliance for BBC Television, reportedly told Wallace in a letter of dismissal that the broadcaster did not have the confidence he could change his behaviour.
She added: “I do not have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour for you to make what you perceive to be jokes in the working environment, without understanding the boundaries of what is appropriate.”
Friends have said his autism diagnosis is partly to blame for inappropriate behaviour with The Times reporting they said it meant he cannot wear underwear.
Wallace admitted in a Daily Mail interview in April to putting a “sock over my private bits” and opening his dressing room door to shout “hooray”. But he said he done so with three friends present after filming had finished.
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square AUTISMI'm autistic - it's disgraceful that Gregg Wallace is using it as an excuse
Read MoreWallace received formal confirmation of the termination of his MasterChef contract, last Thursday.
A senior entertainment executive, Kate Phillips, told Wallace his behaviour was “unacceptable” and had to change in 2018, following a complaint from a Celebrity MasterChef contestant. However, the BBC reported further claims dating up to 2023. The BBC said Phillips was unaware of any subsequent complaints.
Director-general Tim Davie has to decide whether a complete series of MasterChef, recorded last year and its broadcast delayed, will be aired.
There are concerns that contributors, such as the winner who might be expected to launch a restaurant career off the show, could take legal action if the series does not air.
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