Gregg Wallace Faces Backlash for Dismissing Sexual Misconduct Allegations on ‘Masterchef’, Raising Concerns About BBC’s Handling of the Claims

The British government's culture secretary has held talks with the BBC as the broadcaster comes under growing scrutiny after one of its TV hosts drew an angry backlash for dismissing sexual misconduct allegations. Gregg Wallace, a long-time co-presenter on the cooking contest show Masterchef, is facing allegations from multiple women that he made inappropriate sexual comments and behaved inappropriately on set over 17 years. Elton John Reveals He’s Lost His Sight Following Eye Infection; Says ‘I Can’t See Anything’.

Wallace, 60, said last week he was stepping away from the show while an investigation was launched into his alleged behaviour. But his case received further attention Sunday, when he said in a social media post that the complaints came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age."

He added that he had worked on Masterchef with thousands of contestants “of all different ages, all different backgrounds, all walks of life” for two decades and “there's been 13 complaints in that time.”

His comments angered some of the women who made complaints against him. A spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office described Wallace's remarks as “completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”

The spokesperson said Monday that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy was seeking assurances from the BBC that the publicly funded broadcaster handled such complaints about workplace culture properly.

The BBC has faced questions on how it handles sexual misconduct allegations and how Wallace had continued to front some of its most popular shows for so long despite the complaints.

Television presenter Aggie MacKenzie, who competed on “Celebrity Masterchef” in 2011, told ITV on Monday that Wallace made “endless smutty jokes” and alleged that “he's been allowed to carry on in his own sweet way for many, many years.”

She said his comments about his accusers illustrate “how he just has no insight or understanding of how he behaves. He just doesn't get it.”

Others have alleged that Wallace undressed in front of women working on his shows, made comments about his sex life or made women uncomfortable with sexualized jokes during filming.

The BBC reported that 13 people who worked with Wallace over a range of shows have complained about inappropriate sexual comments from him over 17 years.

It reported that Wallace was warned by his employers after a complaint in 2018, and an internal investigation at the time found his behaviour was “unacceptable and unprofessional."

Wallace's lawyers have denied that he “engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.” Mario Lopez Honoured With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Surrounded by Family on His 51st Birthday; Says, ‘I’m Still Blessed To Be Doing What I Love the Most’.

The BBC, which has said it has “robust processes” to deal with the issue, declined to comment on Wallace's case because of the ongoing investigation by “Masterchef”'s production company.