Instagram: Gregg Wallace poses topless
Gregg Wallace has been sacked as the presenter of the BBC show MasterChef.
His dismissal follows a report into his behaviour on the cooking programme.
The findings will be published next week.
However, details have been leaked.
It’s said more than 50 people have come forward to allege “sexual misconduct” and inappropriate behaviour by the star.
In a statement Wallace insisted he was the victim of an “incredible injustice”.
The BBC has published a catalogue of new accusations against Wallace.
One of the alleged victims said that Wallace, 60, had been protected for too long.
Junior production worker “Sophie” said:
“Gregg’s time has come.
“But the most senior leadership, who have clearly heard these testimonies over the years and not chosen to remove him soon, should also resign.
“And both them and the BBC should consider why a presenter being in post is more important than the wellbeing and treatment of the people making the series.”
Sophie claims Wallace groped her while she was standing at a bar with him and his co-host, John Torode.
She did not complain at the time because she feared being “booted off” the MasterChef team.
Another MasterChef crew member alleged that Wallace invited her into his dressing room in 2012.
He said he needed help changing into black tie.
Once in the room, it’s claimed Wallace pushed her onto a sofa and pulled his trousers down.
She reported his “disgusting and predatory” behaviour to the independent production company which made the show.
However, she claims a senior member of the production team told her:
“You’re over 16, you’re not being ‘Jimmy Saviled’.”
The new allegations about Wallace – and the findings of the review – add further pressure on BBC Director-General Tim Davie.
He is already under fire over his handling of Bob Vylan’s controversial set at Glastonbury.
The rap artist led the audience in chanting “Death, death to the IDF” – Israel’s defence force.
Mr Davie was at Glastonbury at the time.
In a statement ahead of the MasterChef report publication, Wallace said:
“After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence to protect others.”
He claimed that the report will clear him of serious wrongdoing but will find him “primarily guilty of inappropriate language”.
He added: “I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate.
“For that, I apologise without reservation.”
The presenter complained that his suspected autism had made the MasterChef studio “a dangerous environment” for him.
A BBC spokesman said:
“Banijay UK [the MasterChef production company] instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace.
“We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.”
