MasterChef Star Gregg Wallace Temporarily Stops Show Due to Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

united kingdom - MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has been forced to temporarily stop the show following allegations of sexual misconduct. Here's an overview of the background and his response.

After being forced to halt MasterChef due to sexual comments toward 13 colleagues, Gregg Wallace seemed to adopt the best defense is offense strategy. The host talked about 'expressions of support' in a video posted on his Instagram Thursday night. 'I would like to thank all the people who have contacted me and expressed their support. That's nice of you, thank you,' Gregg said.

This comes after being accused, among other things, of imitating a sexual act in front of shocked colleagues. His mother, Mary Pettman, told the British newspaper Daily Mail that Gregg Wallace is 'fine' with the investigation. The 81-year-old said, 'He's doing well. I speak fairly regularly with my son.' About the investigation and when Gregg will return to MasterChef, she added, 'I haven't heard anything about the investigation.'

Three top chefs from the UK are now reportedly vying to replace Gregg Wallace on MasterChef, according to the Daily Mail.

Singer Rod Stewart (73) is pleased that an investigation is being conducted into 'bully' Gregg. 'This ill-mannered man had a portion of his show cut to avoid showing how he treated my wife Penny Lancaster. He humiliated and insulted her. Karma has caught up with this overweight, bald man.'

The BBC announced on Thursday that 13 people, including Newsnight presenter Kirsty Walk, accused host Gregg Wallace of 'inappropriate behavior' over a period of 17 years spanning five shows from 2005 to 2022. This includes allegations that Gregg grabbed a female MasterChef colleague's head and pushed himself towards her while she knelt in front of him to wipe a stain off his trousers.

He was also accused, by The Telegraph, of inappropriately entering the MasterChef studio 'Gregg was completely naked, except for a sock pulled over his penis. He was performing a crazy dance.' The Telegraph spoke with a witness to the incident. The newspaper initiated its own investigation after the alleged victim filed a formal complaint with the BBC. The complaint further stated that the host made 'disgusting sex-related jokes.'

Gregg's lawyers told the BBC that it was completely untrue that he had engaged in sexually intimidating behavior.

Banijay UK, the producer of the popular BBC cooking show, said it 'immediately requested an external investigation. It wants the case to be fully and impartially investigated.' A spokesperson said, 'While this review is ongoing, Gregg Wallace will step away from his role at MasterChef and will fully cooperate with the entire process. Banijay UK's duty of care towards its staff is a priority, and our expectations regarding behavior are made clear to both the cast and crew in all productions. The fact that this possible behavior took place some time ago is not of significance to us.'

Gregg has been co-hosting MasterChef since 2005 with John Torode. Despite the developments, pre-recorded episodes of MasterChef: the professionals with Gregg are being broadcast as planned. There will be two festive Christmas broadcasts. Gregg was first accused of making 'inappropriate sexual comments' towards a female BBC employee while working on the program Impossible Celebrities.

Thirteen people who have worked with the host on various programs over the course of 17 years now accuse him of making sexual comments, as confirmed by the BBC. BBC Newsnight reporter Kirsty Wark also said she was affected by Wallace. She participated in the recordings of Celebrity chef 2011 and felt like she had 'completely landed in the wrong place.' Other accusations include Gregg openly talking about his sex life, taking off his shirt for a younger colleague, and telling another colleague that he wasn't wearing pants.

BBC News confirmed that they had started an investigation into Gregg last summer after claims were made regarding five shows between 2005 and 2022. Gregg's lawyers have branded the latest claims as untrue, but the MasterChef host has been asked to step away from the popular cooking series while a separate investigation is conducted.

The Sun reported how Gregg first ran into trouble with BBC bosses in 2018 for taking his shirt off and boasting about his adventures. In 2023, he was accused of being rude to women during his work on the BBC program Inside the factory. After the complaints were lodged, Gregg admitted to making comments but denied they were of a sexual nature. He also emphasized his love for his wife, Anne Marie Sterpini, whom he married in 2016.