Gregg Wallace latest: Kirstie Allsopp slams ‘sex act’ remark amid backlash over blaming ‘women of certain age’
Host faces allegations of making inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people over a 17-year period
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Your support makes all the difference.Kirstie Allsopp is the latest figure to accuse Gregg Wallace of inappropriate behaviour amid backlash over the Masterchef presenter blaming “middle-class women of a certain age”.
The Masterchef presenter left the BBC programme on Thursday (28 November) after claims were made by 13 people that he made a number of inappropriate sexual comments.
Speaking in a video posted on his Instagram page, the 60-year-old said: “I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age, just from Celebrity MasterChef. This isn’t right.”
Presenter Kirstie Allsopp responded to his remarks by claiming that Wallace made “unprofessional” comments about a sex act when they were filming a pilot for a TV show.
Allsopp said the remarks left her feeling “embarrassed” and added: “That is unacceptable. Because he is essentially saying this is a class issue and middle-class women don’t understand the type of things he says because he’s working-class. Well I’m sorry, but he’s doing a incredible disservice to men.”
Politicians have also spoken out about concerns surrounding the allegations. The Conservative chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Caroline Dinenage, vowed to raise concerns to BBC bosses when possible.
The Independent has contacted Wallace’s representatives for comment. A BBC spokesperson said “any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated”.
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Emma Kennedy claims she reported Wallace 12 years ago
In a statement, former Celebrity MasterChef winner Emma Kennedy claimed that she made a complaint about Wallace in 2012.
Kennedy claims that she witnessed Wallace use inappropriate conduct towards another woman who was working on the show, reports The Sun.
The actor and lawyer wrote on BlueSky: “For the record, I complained about behaviour I witnessed on MasterChef in 2012. They knew then. They knew before then and they’ve known since.”
Masterchef producer hire top law firm to lead investigation
MasterChef producer Banijay UK has announced the appointment of law firm Lewis Silkin to lead the investigation into alleged misconduct by presenter Gregg Wallace during filming of the BBC cooking show.
The production company had revealed complaints were made to the BBC by individuals in relation to “historical allegations of misconduct” while working with Wallace.
A Banijay UK spokesperson said: “Lewis Silkin is a major City law firm with a highly experienced specialist investigations team which has overseen a broad range of high-profile workplace investigations.
“Banijay UK has been impressed by the firm’s rigorous, in-depth, and impartial analysis and reporting.”
They said anyone wishing to raise further concerns could contact the investigation team via atbanijayinvestigation@lewissilkin.com.
The spokesperson added: “All information will be handled sensitively, and names of those providing evidence to the team will be kept confidential.”
Banijay UK said earlier this week that Wallace is “committed to fully co-operating throughout the process”.
From troubled childhood to troubling reputation, this TV stalwart is facing self-destruction
Gregg Wallace was always an unlikely TV star. Prematurely bald, stout, and the proud wearer of thick glasses, he seemed destined for an unglamorous life amid the vegetable stalls of the capital, rather than on TV screens across the country.
And yet, the presenter, who today has stepped back from his role as a judge on MasterChef after a series of historic sexual misconduct allegations came to light, has made himself part of the furniture at the BBC.
And that makes his rapid fall from grace even more troubling for the corporation, though Wallace’s lawyers say it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
Read the full analysis from Nick Hilton here:
Gregg Wallace: From troubled childhood to troubling reputation
The greengrocer-turned-presenter is stepping back from ‘MasterChef’ while allegations of historical misconduct are investigated. Nick Hilton looks back on his career as an unlikely TV star, which followed a tough start in life
Production company to investigate accusations
After allegations raised by staff members about Wallace’s behaviour on Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends to BBC News, Channel 5 asked the programme’s production company Rumpus Media to look into the accusations.
Rumpus Media said: “We do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions.
“Our comprehensive duty of care processes were in place during production of these series and any matters raised would have been investigated in accordance with these.”