Gregg Wallace live: MasterChef host apologises for dismissing allegations as by ‘women of a certain age’
In a video posted on Instagram, the presenter said he was ‘under a huge amount of stress’
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Your support makes all the difference.Gregg Wallace has apologised for “any offence that I caused” following a backlash over his response to allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which he described as complaints from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”.
In a video shared on Instagram, the MasterChef presenter acknowledged he “wasn’t in a good headspace” and had been under stress. He added, “It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out. While this investigation is under way, I hope you understand, and I do hope you will accept this apology.”
Downing Street condemned Wallace’s remarks as “inappropriate and misogynistic”.
The BBC is facing mounting calls to pause broadcasts of MasterChef as it investigates claims of sexually inappropriate comments made by Wallace, who stepped down from the programme on Thursday. The allegations, which span years, were made by 13 individuals.
Labour MP Rupa Huq said continuing to air the show during the investigation “sends the wrong message” and risks damaging the BBC’s global reputation.
A BBC spokesperson reiterated that “any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated”.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall advises Gregg to ‘rein it in’
Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has advised Gregg Wallace to “rein it in” as the MasterChef host takes to social media to respond to claims of inappropriate behaviour against him.
In response to Wallace’s earlier claim that all complainants against him were “middle-class women of a certain age”, Fearnley-Whittingstall said the comments were “not wise”.
He told the BBC that he doesn’t know the fallen star well, but having met him a few times, called him “likeable and professional”.
He said: “I don’t think it’s smart to come out talking like that when at the moment he should probably be listening.”
Full story: BBC in turmoil over Gregg Wallace allegations as presenter faces backlash for blaming ‘middle-class women’
The BBC is facing further criticism over its response to allegations against Gregg Wallace amid a furious backlash to the MasterChef host’s claim that accusations that he had made sexual comments to staff and guests had come from “middle-class women of a certain age”.
Wallace stepped back from the cooking show on Thursday as a string of allegations emerged concerning the 60-year-old’s behaviour, including that he had made inappropriate sexual jokes, asked for the phone numbers of female members of production staff, and undressed in front of women.
Over the weekend, reports emerged that the BBC had been made aware of complaints as far back as 2017, while it was claimed that a letter had been sent to the broadcaster in 2022 stating that women had been made to feel “uncomfortable” in his presence.
Read the full story:
BBC in turmoil over Gregg Wallace claims as presenter blames ‘middle-class women’
The MasterChef presenter took to Instagram to defend himself while the BBC faced questions over its response to complaints
Politicians share concerns over Gregg Wallace accusations
Politicians have spoken out about concerns surrounding the handling of Gregg Wallace’s misconduct allegations after it emerged claims were reported as far back as 2017.
The Conservative chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Caroline Dinenage, vowed to raise concerns to BBC bosses when possible.
She told The Telegraph: “BBC bosses appear in front of us on a regular basis and at the next opportunity I’m sure members will want to raise the issue of the BBC complaints process and whether it’s protecting the staff who work there or on its behalf.”
Labour MP and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee member Paul Waugh echoed these concerns; “Both BBC staff and the wider public will want to know whether the Corporation’s processes are fit for purpose. And I hope the director-general will have some answers when he’s next before the Committee.”
Premium: I’m surprised Gregg Wallace didn’t call his female accusers ‘Karens’
There’s a good reason why the disgraced former MasterChef host is angry with ‘middle-class women of a certain age’ – we’ve spent a lifetime putting up with men’s bad behaviour, and age brings the confidence to stand up to it, says Alice Smellie:
I’m surprised Gregg Wallace didn’t call his female accusers ‘Karens’
There’s a good reason why the disgraced former MasterChef host is angry with ‘middle-class women of a certain age’ – we’ve spent a lifetime putting up with men’s bad behaviour, and age brings the confidence to stand up to it, says Alice Smellie
Ulrika Jonsson responds to Gregg Wallace’s ‘women of a certain age’ comment after ‘rape joke’
TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson, who claimed Gregg Wallace made a “rape joke” during the filming of Celebrity MasterChef, has said she was “seething” after seeing him single out “middle-class women of a certain age”.
Jonsson is one of several women who have accused Wallace of inappropriate behaviour as she claimed he was forced to apologise for the joke he made during filming for an episode of the cooking competition.
In response to Wallace’s comments made on social media this morning, the presenter told The Telegraph: “When he made reference to women of a certain age I was just seething... I was just absolutely wild.
“My first reaction was just, ‘Keep digging, Gregg. Keep digging’ because this shows the arrogance of a man who has zero introspection or self-awareness.
“When we refer to women ‘of a certain age’, they tend to be women my age, over 50, which is ironic because we are some of the hardiest women out there. When I was starting out, we had to put up with all sorts of sexist, misogynistic comments, and we put up with them.
‘‘It’s the height of arrogance for him to say, ‘Oh it’s this small bunch, it’s this small cohort of people who are different’. No, Gregg, actually, it’s not about being different. It’s about being respectable and having some ability to not just read the room, but to read the world.”
Gregg shares host of supportive messages to social media
Amid accusations of inappropriate behaviour, Gregg Wallace has taken to social media to share supportive messages he has received in recent days.
The MasterChef host, who has stepped down in light of recent allegations, has posted screenshots of several messages from former contestants to his Instagram story on Sunday.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall advises Gregg to ‘rein it in'
Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has advised Gregg Wallace to “rein it in” as the MasterChef host takes to social media to respond to claims of inappropriate behaviour against him.
In response to Wallace’s earlier claim that all complainants against him were “middle-class women of a certain age”, Fearnley-Whittingstall said the comments were “not wise”.
He told the BBC that he doesn’t know the fallen star well, but having met him a few times, called him “likeable and professional”.
He said: “I don’t think it’s smart to come out talking like that when at the moment he should probably be listening.”
Inside Gregg Wallace’s rocky love life with four wives as he exits MasterChef amid misconduct claims
Gregg Wallace will step away from presenting MasterChef while new complaints made by individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated.
The presenter, 60, known for his colourful on-camera quips was previously accused of making sexually inappropriate comments to a female BBC colleague in 2018, and was forced to quit Inside the Factory over “inappropriate” remarks allegedly made to female staff last year, which he denies.
Wallace, who – among other complaints – has been accused by former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark of making jokes of a “sexualised nature” when she was competing on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, has previously said he resents any insinuation he was “flirting” with someone who is not his wife Anna, 37.
Read the full report here:
Inside Gregg Wallace’s rocky love life with four wives as he leaves MasterChef
The presenter was once warned by a therapist he ‘picks women like cars’
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.
Will upcoming MasterChef episodes featuring Gregg Wallace air as normal?
Upcoming episodes of MasterChef are expected to air on the BBC as planned after Gregg Wallace stepped down from his role as a host of the cooking show.
Future episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals are still slated to air on the broadcaster, while two Christmas specials are planned for the festive season.
A BBC spokesperson told The Independent: “Right now the plan is, if it’s already been recorded, it will go out.”