Gregg Wallace claims he was 'groped many times' during Masterchef fame

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Gregg Wallace has claimed that he was 'groped many times' by female fans during the height of his Masterchef fame.
Gregg Wallace has claimed he was 'groped many times' during his time on Masterchef.
The TV star, 60, was dropped by the BBC after a damning investigation that upheld 45 out of 83 complaints against him, ranging from inappropriate sexual language to one incident of unwelcome physical contact. The scandal came just days before his co-host John Torode was sacked by the BBC following a claim of using racist language.
But he has now claimed that he 'had so many bad experiences' during his time as the face of the long-running culinary competition as he alleged that female fans said 'inappropriate things' to him and 'touched' him as they clamoured to have their photograph taken with him.
Claiming that the complaints system has 'huge problems' and needs to be readdressed, he explained to The Sun: "My God, can you imagine the complaints I could have made? Have you got any idea of the sexual references made to me on a daily basis? How many times I've been touched by women wanting a selfie? How many times I've been groped? How many times suggestive comments have been made to me? How many female contestants have said inappropriate things?"
The presenter claimed that had he wanted to complain about the alleged behaviour, he would have done so in private, but that such actions would never 'cross my mind'. However, he was keen to insist that groping was 'not right' but still claimed that it happened to him on a 'regular basis' throughout his time on Masterchef.
The BBC recently unveiled plans to continue with the long-running franchise, which initially started up in the 1990s hosted by Loyd Grossman before Wallace and John Torode took over in the mid-2000s, but the former host has no plans to tune in and 'doesn't want anything to do' with television or the BBC.
His comments come just days after it was confirmed by the BBC that they will air the upcoming series of Masterchef, even though both of its hosts have been let go by the broadcaster. A spokesperson for the BBC said the decision was made "after careful consideration" and said it "no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters."
Earlier this month, Wallace said he was "deeply sorry for any distress" he caused with his past behaviour after the BBC concluded their investigation. In a statement released via the PA, he insisted that he "never set out to harm or humiliate" anyone. MasterChef's production company, Banijay, employed an independent law firm to conduct the investigation into the allegations made against Wallace.
The incident sparked comment from the government, with the Prime Minister's official spokesman saying: "We're clear that appropriate steps must be taken to ensure abuses of power are prevented from happening in the future."
'After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August," a spokesperson said. "MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey.
'This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters," they continued.
"We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC. However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series."