Gregg Wallace live: BBC axes MasterChef Christmas special hours after new claims of on-set humiliation emerge
BBC U-turns after fresh claims from previous contestants emerged
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Your support makes all the difference.The BBC has announced it will pull its MasterChef Christmas specials amid an investigation into allegations by 13 individuals of sexually inappropriate comments made by host Gregg Wallace.
Two Christmas specials of the cookery show were planned to air on BBC One later this month. But BBC News said on Tuesday afternoon the episodes would no longer be broadcast.
It represents a U-turn for the corporation, which previously said all filmed episodes of MasterChef would air as planned.
It comes as fresh allegations of misconduct emerge against Wallace and pressure continues to mount on BBC bosses to axe MasterChef entirely.
Despite criticism from public figures, including senior politicians, the BBC said the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals, which airs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with Wallace as a judge, will still go ahead.
New claims have also been made against Wallace, including from TV presenter Melanie Sykes, who said an alleged remark made by him on Celebrity MasterChef forced her to quit television “once and for all”.
Meanwhile, former MasterChef contestant Jackie Kearney told Sky News that Wallace made innuendos “constantly” during filming and was heard by crew members - and that one sexually inappropriate comment left her in tears.
Don’t worry about Gregg Wallace – he’s already eyeing up his next career move
Angry response to Gregg Wallace saying accusations made by ‘middle-class women’
BBC in turmoil over Gregg Wallace allegations as presenter faces backlash for blaming ‘middle-class women’
‘Seething’ Ulrika Jonsson responds to Gregg Wallace blaming ‘women of a certain age’ for complaints
Comment: Why aren’t more men speaking out about Gregg Wallace?
Casual sexism is like Japanese knotweed, writes Caroline Brown. If everyone who sees it pretends not to notice, or to consider it a problem, it will spread rapidly and take root:
Why aren’t more men speaking out about Gregg Wallace?
Casual sexism is like Japanese knotweed, writes Caroline Brown. If everyone who sees it pretends not to notice, or to consider it a problem, it will spread rapidly and take root
What has been cancelled?
Two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials - Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza - have been pulled from the BBC’s schedule after Gregg Wallace stepped away from hosting the cooking show.
Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off, hosted by Wallace and John Torode, was to see celebrities competing for the glittery Golden Whisk Trophy.
Emmerdale actor Amy Walsh, comedian Shazia Mirza, reality star Luca Bish, and The Wanted singer Max George, who all appeared on Celebrity MasterChef last year, were set to feature.
The BBC previously announced the Strictly Come Dancing-themed special would involve appearances from professional dancers Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu.
Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse was billed as a mystery guest on the show, with the dancers tasked with creating a two-course menu that would impress the judges.
Three episodes of BBC Two’s Inside The Factory, which are repeats, are also coming out of the schedule, the BBC said.
The show featured Wallace alongside Cherry Healey and saw the pair explore factory floors across Britain to get a closer look at production lines.
The episodes were due to air on December 11, 17 and 18 on BBC Two.
Current season of MasterChef: The Professionals to continue airing
Though the BBC has pulled its MasterChef Christmas specials from its schedule, the broadcaster will continue to air the current season of MasterChef: The Professionals.
A BBC spokesperson said: “As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.
“The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.”
Comment: Don’t worry about Gregg Wallace – he’s already eyeing up his next career move
“If you’re a middle-class man of a certain age worried about Gregg Wallace’s future career prospects, there’s no need. Honestly. It’s all going to be absolutely fine – I promise you,” writes Helen Coffey.
“The disgraced ‘MasterChef’ judge is clearly gearing up to follow in the tried and tested footsteps of many problematic men before him”
Read the full comment here:
Don’t worry about Gregg Wallace – he’s already eyeing up his next career move
The disgraced ‘MasterChef’ judge is clearly gearing up to follow in the tried-and-tested footsteps of many problematic men before him, writes Helen Coffey
ICYMI: Wallace remarks on middle-class women ‘inappropriate and misogynistic’, says No 10
Downing Street has condemned Gregg Wallace’s remarks characterising those who have complained about his alleged comments as being “middle-class women of a certain age”.
Asked about Wallace’s remarks, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson was cited as saying by the Telegraph: “On this, as we said last week these allegations are obviously deeply concerning. It’s right that a thorough investigation is conducted.
“Obviously that’s for the BBC and the production company but I would add that the Culture Secretary spoke with the BBC leadership at the end of last week on this matter and wider workplace culture issues to seek assurances that there are robust processes in place to deal with the complaints.
“And as you know clearly the comments that we’ve seen from the individual over the weekend were completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”
Gregg Wallace says head ‘not in a good place’ as he issues new apology for ‘middle class women’ jibe
Gregg Wallace says head ‘not in a good place’ in new apology
A visibly emotional Gregg Wallace has apologised after posting a video saying complaints about his alleged inappropriate behaviour came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”.
In a new Instagram message, posted on Monday, the MasterChef presenter said his head was “not in a good place” and that he is “under a lot of stress”.
My colleague Lucy Leeson reports:
Gregg Wallace issues emotional apology as he confirms time away from public eye
A visibly emotional Gregg Wallace has apologised after posting a video saying complaints about his alleged inappropriate behaviour came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”. In a new Instagram message, posted on Monday (2 December), the MasterChef presenter revealed his head was “not in a good place” and that he is “under a lot of stress”. The presenter left the BBC programme on Thursday (28 November) after historic claims were made by 13 people. A BBC spokesperson said “any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated”.
Breaking: BBC pulls MasterChef Christmas specials amid Gregg Wallace claims
The BBC has announced it will pull its MasterChef Christmas specials amid an investigation into allegations by 13 individuals of sexually inappropriate comments made by host Gregg Wallace.
Two Christmas specials of the cookery show were planned to air on BBC One later this month. But BBC News said on Tuesday afternoon the episodes would no longer be broadcast.
It represents a U-turn for the corporation, which previously said all filmed episodes of MasterChef would air as planned.
Who is celebrity chef Gregg Wallace?
Gregg Wallace, 60, is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005, as well as its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.
He was the original presenter of the BBC show Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has also featured on Eat Well For Less, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest, and Supermarket Secrets.
He was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022 for his services to food and charity. Mr Wallace took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 and was partnered with Aliona Vilani.
He has two children, Tom and Libby, from a former relationship. He married Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2016 and the couple have a son called Sid.
ICYMI: Gregg not contracted for future series, production company confirms
The company that produces MasterChef, has confirmed Gregg Wallace is not contracted for future series as an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour is carried out.
Production company Banijay UK told The Independent that Wallace is contracted on a series by series basis and is not set to be a part of future series while the investigation is ongoing.