The BBC has officially broken the links with the long -standing presenter of “Masterchef”, Gregg Wallace, following the publication of an independent survey on his conduct, marking the end of its 20 -year mandate on the flagship of culinary competition.
In a press release published following the results of Lewis Silkin’s survey, the BBC confirmed that Wallace’s “Masterchef” is untenable “and that society” does not intend to work with it in the future “. The decision comes after what the BBC described as “a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct extending over 19 years”.
The seven -month investigation, conducted by British law firm Lewis Silkin, examined 83 specific allegations against the 60 -year -old presenter of 41 complainants. The survey team, which interviewed 78 witnesses and examined contemporary documents and images of the unplamed program, confirmed 45 allegations – just over half of those made.
According to the results of the survey, the majority of supported allegations (94%) linked to the behavior occurring between 2005 and 2018, with a single allegation supported after 2018. The supported allegations mainly involved an inappropriate sexual language and humor, with a smaller number linked to other inappropriate languages and to be in a state of undress. An allegation of unwanted physical contact has also been supported.
The investigation revealed that Wallace came into contact with more than 2,500 candidates in all the “Masterchef” series during its mandate from 2005 to 2024. The report noted that Wallace “was constantly described as energetic, humorous and generally capable of putting candidates at ease, which contributed to the success of the program”. However, he found that the interactions and comments formulated within reach of voices of competitors or colleagues “have sometimes led the offensive and / or uncomfortable people”.
During the investigation, Wallace was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Lewis Silkin’s report said that “the results achieved should be considered in the context of its neurodiversity”, noting its use of humor as a “masking” technique and difficulties in reading the social indices.
The survey also found evidence of 11 formal or informal complaints or concerns about Wallace’s behavior during the period from 2005 to 2024. An official survey was undertaken by the production company in 2015, and the BBC intervened in response to a complaint in 2017, “after which Mr. Wallace was warned of the need to change his behavior.” The report noted that Wallace “took measures to take this warning into account” and made proactive efforts to modify its behavior.
However, the survey highlighted systemic failures in the treatment of complaints, especially in previous years. Before 2016, there was “little or no formal training or clear climbing procedures” to report inappropriate behavior, leading to the sub-declaration. The report revealed that the concerns were often treated informally without holding adequate registers and that independent staff felt reluctant to complain because of the insecurity of work.
According to the BBC, Wallace’s behavior “falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations that we have for anyone working with or for us”.
The company recognized institutional failures in the fight against the situation earlier, declaring: “Although the complete extent of these problems was not known at the relevant moment, the opportunities were missed to approach this behavior – both by production companies executing ‘` Masterchef’ ‘and the BBC. We accept more and should have been done earlier. ”
The Lewis Silkin report also confirmed two additional allegations concerning other people, which the BBC says that it takes “very seriously”. The company asked producer Banijay UK to take action to solve these problems in priority.
Patrick Holland, Executive President of Banijay UK, recognized the conclusions in a press release: “Although this puts an uncomfortable reading, highlighting failures in inherited reports and HR procedures, he also provides a precious overview to ensure that to go ahead who works on our productions feels sure and supported.”
Holland noted that “while recognizing the diagnosis of the autism of Mr. Wallace, which is relevant for certain behaviors identified in the report … The volume and consistency of supported allegations, going between 2005 and 2024, make Gregg Wallace’s return to” Masterchef “and between the untenable”.
The investigation began last year after Wallace resigned from “Masterchef” in November 2024 following initial allegations of sexually inappropriate comments by 13 people who worked with him between 2005 and 2022. The situation increased spectacular when the BBC News revealed that 50 new accusers had manifested, including 11 women who allegedly allegedly touch.
Wallace initially denied all the allegations through its lawyers, calling them “entirely false”. He then published a controversial Instagram video saying that the accusations came from “a handful of middle -class women of a certain age”. More recently, he published a combative declaration claiming the justification for the Lewis Silkin investigation, although he recognized that the report considered him “mainly guilty of inappropriate language” between 2005 and 2018.
“I recognize that part of my humor and my language was sometimes inappropriate. For that, I apologize without reservation,” wrote Wallace in his Instagram declaration. However, he also took a provocative tone, declaring: “I will not quietly go. I will not be canceled for more convenience.”
The BBC’s decision leaves the future of an uncertain “Masterchef”. The company said that it had not yet made a final decision on the broadcast of the series that was filmed last year, recognizing that it was “disappointing for fans of the show and those who participated”. Banijay UK will consult amateur candidates more at an appropriate time, according to the BBC.
The BBC concluded its declaration by reaffirming its commitment to the standards in the workplace: “There is no room for the abuse of power, a behavior or an unacceptable language to the BBC, or shows formed for the BBC.”
The two organizations have focused on the improvements made to social protection systems and declaration procedures since 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine, and again in 2020 when Banijay acquired Endemol Shine. Banijay UK announced the immediate deployment of an additional denunciation service managed outside in all productions.
Wallace’s departure puts an end to a two decades partnership with the co-host John Torode who helped establish “Masterchef” as the cornerstone of BBC One programming and has generated several international versions of the format.
