The proof that BBC turned a blind eye to Gregg Wallace

Telegraph

11-07-2025

The BBC warned Gregg Wallace six years ago that he would be sacked if he continued behaving inappropriately, but failed to act when further concerns were raised about his conduct.
A BBC executive wrote to Wallace in 2019, following complaints about his behaviour, and said they would cut ties with him if they learnt of any further allegations.
However, when the BBC was subsequently told about Wallace's inappropriate behaviour, the corporation did not follow through on its threat.
Wallace has now been sacked by the BBC ahead of the expected publication of a report into his behaviour, commissioned by Banijay, an independent production company, and conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin.
The BBC is now facing fresh questions over why Wallace was allowed to keep working amid mounting complaints.
Kate Phillips, the BBC's chief content officer, warned the MasterChef host in 2019 that the corporation would 'seriously consider its future working relationship' with him if he did not heed warnings about his behaviour.
In a letter, she said that the BBC ' will not tolerate behaviour to occur on any productions that is inappropriate, unprofessional and/or has the effect on individuals to feel sexually harassed'.
She added: 'It would be regrettable and disappointing to learn of any further incidents, and in such circumstances, the BBC would need to seriously consider its future working relationship with you.'
Her letter followed complaints about behaviour on at least two of his shows: Impossible Celebrities and Celebrity MasterChef.
In 2023, on Inside the Factory, another of Wallace's shows, the presenter allegedly made inappropriate remarks about the weight of people working at a Nestle plant.
After filming took place in February that year, Nestle's head of media relations told its staff that it had 'spoken to the BBC to bring our unacceptable experience to their attention in the hope that it is not repeated in other workplaces around the UK'.
Wallace left Inside the Factory afterwards. According to a source, the production company that makes Inside the Factory carried out an HR investigation but did not make a finding against him.
However, the BBC did not end its working relationship with him as threatened, and he continued working on multiple other shows, including MasterChef, his biggest platform.
MasterChef is made by Banijay, but is on the BBC's list of eight 'flagship programmes'.
The same year, a former policeman who said he witnessed Wallace making inappropriate sexual comments at a charity event in 2023 told BBC News he complained to the corporation online, as well as attempting to call on the phone, but never heard back.
There have been reports of at least two other incidents during this period, although there is no evidence that they were reported to the BBC.
A producer working on MasterChef told The Telegraph that at the end of 2019, they saw a runner crying after apparently being asked to enter Wallace's dressing room when he was only wearing underwear.
In 2022, a 19-year-old MasterChef staff member also tried to complain about Wallace's comments regarding her body, according to BBC News.
Wallace was only taken off air in late 2024. The BBC sent a letter to Wallace this week, reminding him of the written warning by Ms Philips and enumerating other occasions when corporation executives had warned him over his behaviour.
According to the BBC's letter, corporation executives spoke to him about their concerns in the late 2000s, and twice in 2013, including about an incident where he punched a member of the public.
The Telegraph has also learnt of an additional incident on MasterChef more than a decade ago, where BBC bosses were made aware of his alleged inappropriate behaviour.
'Tried to cover up his behaviour'
A young woman working on the show told The Telegraph that she was pulled aside by a BBC executive who used to visit the set of the cookery show regularly.
She claimed that the individual asked her if she 'needed help' because of Wallace's 'inappropriate' behaviour.
Although she declined the offer for fear of losing her job, the woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, said she now wonders if the executive was trying to 'cover' themselves by offering help.
She believes the BBC staff member should have reprimanded Wallace in any case.
She said: 'The BBC should have taken action earlier…It seems like they tried to cover up his behaviour as they tried to protect the 'talent'.'
When The Telegraph approached the BBC executive in question, they said that they did not remember the conversation with the young woman, but did confirm that they had been aware of 'inappropriate' conduct by Wallace.
Wallace's behaviour was brought to the attention of Ms Phillips in 2017, when she was controller of entertainment.
Aasmah Mir, a radio presenter and Celebrity MasterChef contestant, wrote to her about two incidents on the show.
In the first, Wallace allegedly told Ms Mir that a woman of her acquaintance was a 'sexy bitch'. She also alleged that the former greengrocer had been forced to apologise to contestants after telling a rape 'joke'.
Ms Phillips assured Ms Mir that she would make it clear to Wallace and his agent that 'this type of behaviour is unacceptable and cannot continue'.
However, Ms Phillips cautioned Wallace again in 2018, following an incident on Impossible Celebrities.
His BBC career only came to an end this week when he was sacked following the legal inquiry into his behaviour.
Banijay has not yet published the report or its conclusions, but Wallace said on social media this week that he had been cleared of serious wrongdoing.
He admitted that his 'humour and language' could be inappropriate at times and apologised, but he also described himself as the victim of an 'incredible injustice'.
He said: 'The most damaging claims… were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.'
Wallace also suggested that some of his behaviour was down to autism and criticised bosses for failing to take that into account.
He said: 'My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef.
'I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience. I was tried by the media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established. The full story of this incredible injustice must be told and it is very much a matter of public interest.'
A BBC spokesman said: 'Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.'