A review into Gregg Wallace’s behaviour has upheld 45 complaints of inapproprate behaviour by the MasterChef presenter including one case of “unwanted physical contact.”
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.
An executive summary of the review, published on Monday, found that just over half – 45 of the 83 allegations against Wallace – were substantiated.
The majority of substantiated allegations related to “inappropriate sexual language and humour.”
A smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated. One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.
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.
Wallace, who was axed from the cooking show last week, has admitted using inappropriate language. But he earlier claimed to have been cleared of “the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.
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.
“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 confirmed it has told Wallace it has “no plans to work with him in the future.” His positions as MasterChef presenter was “untenable.”
With other MasterChef figures now drawn into the scandal, the BBC said it has yet to decide whether it will broadcast a complete series of MasterChef which features Wallace as a judge and was due to have aired this spring.
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 majority of the allegations against Wallace (94 per cent) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018. Only one allegation was substantiated post 2018.
The summary raises questions about the BBC’s failure to tackle concerns about Wallace.
The investigation team found evidence that during the period from 2005 to 2024, six complaints were raised with the production company and six with the BBC (four of which had also been raised with the production company).
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.”
More formal action was taken by the production company in 2015 and the BBC in 2017 but although Wallace was said to have agreed to address his behaviour, concerns continued to be raised on a number of shows produced for the BBC.
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.
The claims prompted Banijay to commission an independent report. The Silkin review spoke to 78 witnesses who worked with Wallace.
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 investigation found that there was “little or no formal training or clear escalation procedures in place (at Shine, the production company which later became Banijay), leading to underreporting of inappropriate behaviour.”
The report found that freelance staff in particular often felt unable to raise issues due to concerns of potential impact on future employment.
The Silkin review acknowledges that Wallace was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and the “findings made should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity.”
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.
“However, these interactions and some comments made within earshot of contestants or colleagues sometimes resulted in offence and/or left people feeling uncomfortable.
“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.”
The investigation accepted Wallace’s claims that he was often unaware that his actions were causing female workers to feel uncomfortable.
“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.
“In some instances, complainants described laughing in the moment due to awkwardness or unease, rather than genuine amusement, which may have led others, including Mr Wallace, to believe they were unperturbed by the remarks.
“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 summary did not go into detail on the claims that had been upheld or offer conclusions on what actions should follow.
The BBC said: “In light of these findings, Banijay UK and the BBC have agreed Mr Wallace’s return to MasterChef is untenable.”
“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.”
“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.
“We want to thank all those who took part in the investigation, including those who first raised concerns directly with the BBC in November last year. We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour.”
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.”
“At this stage we are not going to make a final decision on the broadcast of the series that was filmed last year. We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part and at the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants.”
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.”
“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.”
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.”
He added that “prior to 2016 where the vast majority of these issues arose, it is clear that escalation procedures were not as robust as they should have been, and awareness of policies and procedures were lacking particularly amongst freelance staff. The report also highlights a reluctance by production staff to raise issues or concerns, contributing to an underreporting at that time.”
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.
Wallace, who denies those most serious claims, has said that nothing was done to investigate his 2018 autism diagnosis or protect him.
The BBC is thought to have run its own investigation into claims about Wallace after asking complainants to come forward in November.
The corporation identified six incidents dating back to 2005 in the dismissal letter, according to The Daily Telegraph. The BBC also considered Wallace’s description of his accusers as “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”.
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.
Powell said there was “a clear pattern of behaviour between 2005 and 2024, which largely involve you making comments of an inappropriate and/or sexual nature”.
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.”
Wallace is also said to have been reminded that he had been warned in 2019 to change his behaviour of face the sack.
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.
The presenter is said to have an exaggerated sensory experience that has led to an “inability to wear underwear because of his autistic hypersensitivity to labels and tight clothing”.
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.
Wallace is said to be considering legal action against Banijay and the BBC over his sacking, claiming discrimination under disability rights legislation.
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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.
The BBC faces accusations of failing its safeguarding and duty of care responsibilities towards workers on Wallace’s shows.
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.
The BBC has sought to distance itself from Wallace, with sources saying he was employed by Banijay not directly by the corporation.
Director-general Tim Davie has to decide whether a complete series of MasterChef, recorded last year and its broadcast delayed, will be aired.
Wallace’s role as a judge is so prominent it cannot be edited out, industry figures believe. The BBC could place the series on iPlayer with no TV broadcast.
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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