MasterChef scandal timeline: Where did it all go wrong for the BBC show?
Ever since reports emerged last autumn of misconduct allegations against presenter Gregg Wallace, the hit BBC show has been rocked by scandal and uncertainty.
From historic claims to the TV star's 'middle-class women of a certain age' comment, a lost has happened over the past few months.
Just a week ago, things took another turn when it was revealed his longtime co-star John Torode's contract isn't being renewed, with new presenters set to step in.
Here's how we got to where we are today…
Last autumn, Gregg Wallace was accused of making 'inappropriate sexual comments' while working on BBC game show Impossible Celebrities in 2018.
He was also accused of being rude and insulting to women on another programme in 2023.
At the time, he said on social media that the claims had been investigated by the BBC six years earlier, and that 'the outcome of that was that [he] hadn't said anything sexual'.
The following month, further allegations emerged around various incidents on the MasterChef set, including claims he appeared almost 'completely naked'.
At the time, he was announced he would be stepping away from the show as producer Banijay started an investigation into historical allegations of misconduct.
This included one former production member who made a formal complaint about an incident from other a decade ago, claiming he held her head and thrust his body towards her, mimicking a sex act, while she knelt to clean a mark his trousers.
He was also accused of sexual harassment on MasterChef, and allegations he was 'fascinated' by an unnamed woman on a separate travel show who happened to be a lesbian.
The allegations were made by 13 people who worked with him over a variety of shows over 17 years.
The BBC said that they take any complaints 'seriously' and that they 'have robust processes in place' for such situations, while Wallace's lawyers claimed it is 'entirely false' that he engages in a 'behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'.
Around the same time, in response to the reports, Sir Rod Stewart slammed Gregg and accused him of 'humiliating' his wife Penny Lancaster on the celebrity edition of MasterChef.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
In December 2024, Gregg Wallace made his now-infamous statement hitting back at 'middle-class women of a certain age'.
He said: 'I've been doing MasterChef for 20 years, amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef, and in that time, I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, different backgrounds, all walks of life.
'Apparently now, I'm reading in the paper, there's been 13 complaints in that time.
'In the newspaper, 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.'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
His statement was met with fierce backlash, and Wallace quickly apologised for his initial Instagram video.
'I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people,' he said.
'I wasn't in a good head space when I posted it. I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege when I posted it.'
With the investigation underway, the BBC confirmed it was pulling the planned Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off special.
A spokesperson said at the time: '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.'
Days later, Wallace had reportedly told friends he 'has lost everything' amid the investigation, according to The Sun.
That same month, it was revealed Grace Dent would replace Wallace on the next edition of Celebrity MaterChef.
'I've been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa. My whole family watches it,' said the author and podcaster, who has been a guest on MasterChef in the past.
She added: 'It's all about uncovering and championing talent – and to have ended up in this position, is more than a dream to me.
'I'm so excited that I can't eat, which is severely detrimental to a restaurant critic. I feel very lucky to be stepping in for the next Celebrity MasterChef.'
Wallace's co-star John Torode added: 'I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges.'
In an interview with the Daily Mail published in April, Wallace said he believed it might be 'better' for his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini if he 'wasn't here'.
After the interview was published, the 60-year-old TV presenter shared more thoughts on social media.
He wrote on Instagram: 'I've said everything I needed to say in the interview with the Mail and meant every word. It was hard to do, but speaking honestly for myself, my family, and especially my mum, felt right.
'Right now, I don't want to add anything more. I've opened my heart, and that has to be enough.
'There will be a lot of noise, I get that, but I won't be joining in. I need space to heal and to be with the people who know who I really am.'
Earlier this month, it was reported Wallace was planning legal action against the BBC and the MasterChef production team, claiming he faced discrimination due to his autism.
It was revealed that 50 more people had approached the corporation with claims against him.
'Gregg is guilty of bad jokes and rough humour,' a source told The Telegraph. 'But so many people on the show talked openly about suspecting that he had autism for years before he got his diagnosis.'
Days later, the findings of the investigation were revealed as 45 out of the 83 allegations against him were substantiated, including one allegation of 'unwelcome physical contact.
In a statement to the PA news agency, Wallace said he was 'deeply sorry for any distress' his behaviour caused, adding that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' anyone.
He continued: 'A late autism diagnosis has helped me understand how I communicate and how I'm perceived. I'm still learning.
'Banijay have given me great support, and I thank them. But in the end, the BBC left me exposed to trial by media and the damage it leaves in its wake.'
Days after the findings were announced, it was reported John Torode had been sacked from MasterChef.
There had been reports he was accused of using racist language, and the BBC and Banijay UK confirmed his contract will not be renewed.
Torode took to social media and wrote: 'Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay – I am seeing and reading that I've been 'sacked' from MasterChef and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of.'
A Banijay spokesperson said: 'In response to John Torode's statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously.
'The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018.'
And a BBC spokesperson added: 'The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously.
'We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.'
Over the weekend, it was reported that Saturday Kitchen's Matt Tebbutt is set to join MasterChef. More Trending
According to The Sun, he will be joined by Great British Menu chef Andi Oliver.
A source said: 'Matt is seen as a really safe pair of hands by the BBC. He has been in the frame for some time and is now being lined up for MasterChef.
View More »
'The BBC are keen to bring Andi Oliver on board too. She has been so popular as host of the Great British Menu.'
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Who will replace John Torode and Gregg Wallace on MasterChef? The latest updates
MORE: Lisa Faulkner reveals secret to long marriage with John Torode as MasterChef scandal rages on
MORE: Acclaimed thriller hailed as a 'masterpiece' now available to stream
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Is godfather of hospitality MasterChef's next judge?
While sacked MasterChef judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode are due to appear in a new series filmed last year, a colourful character is being lined up as a successor. I hear that restaurateur and hotelier Robert Walton, often called the 'godfather of hospitality', has held talks about joining the crisis-hit BBC cookery series. Restaurant critic Grace Dent was named as Wallace's successor last December after the former greengrocer stepped down following several historical allegations of inappropriate behaviour made about him. 'Robert is in talks for being appointed the MasterChef judge position with Dent,' a source tells me. 'He is a wild card but the most qualified for the job. 'They like the idea of Robert and Grace together. They are playing around with pairs, and they are looking for credibility. It would make a refreshing change to have someone who is an authority on food and hospitality, who is highly decorated and respected, judging for MasterChef.' Walton, 69, who is married to Australian fashion designer Donna Ida Thornton, has already received the royal seal of approval, having been awarded an MBE in 2007 by then Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace for services to hospitality. This week, Walton was honoured again at the House of Lords, where he won the British Icon of Hospitality Award at the Arabreneurs Gala Dinner. 'I'm upset with what's happened to MasterChef and the way everything has come out,' he tells me. 'It's an institution, and it needs to carry on. If someone wants me to do it, I'm super-happy to put my name forward and can get the job done.' Previously touted to replace Torode were Saturday Kitchen's Matt Tebbutt and Andi Oliver, who hosts Great British Menu. Princess Anne's woes with Wills Holidays can wait for hard-working Princess Anne, who held yet another investiture on behalf of her brother, King Charles, at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. Around 30 are held each year, at which people who've been awarded an honour receive their gong from the King, 76, Anne, who turns 75 next month, or Prince William, 43, who lives at Windsor. A 'source close to Anne' was quoted in The Sunday Times as saying: 'She's still doing most of the investitures [at Windsor] even though William lives there. It annoys her.' Her nephew is currently on holiday abroad with his family. Pick up after your own pooches, says Lucrezia SHE is known for her calmness when delivering bulletins, but ITV News presenter Lucrezia Millarini is a pugnacious type off screen. The Celebrity Mastermind winner, 49, reveals that she confronts fellow dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets. 'I have done this a few times,' she tells me at the premiere of the documentary Dogspiracy. 'Cleaning up after your dog is the right and proper thing to do.' Lucrezia, who has a lhasa apso named Milo, pictured above, says owners who let their dogs leave a mess are 'often aggressive'. She adds: 'It's generally men, they often come back at you with a four-letter word.' Ozzy Osbourne died at home on Tuesday at the age of 76, 'with his family and surrounded by love'. The Black Sabbath star's daughter, Kelly, told me earlier this month he was happy being back in his native Britain but frustrated to be separated from his animals. 'He loves the house, but he's just waiting for the dogs to get here,' she said. Fortunately, I hear his beloved dogs did arrive before his death. They played a big part in Ozzy's TV series The Osbournes. The star once shared a video of his late pomeranian Rocky 'headbanging' to his song Crazy Train. Apinall's ex is expecting miracle baby When I disclosed in 2022 that casino and wildlife park heir Damian Aspinall had separated from his second wife, Victoria, pictured left, friends pointed out that she had always made it clear that she wanted children with him. Now, she has revealed that it was her struggle to conceive that ended their marriage. And she is pregnant with a 'miracle baby' by an unnamed man. 'I was utterly shocked when I found out I was pregnant earlier this year,' admits the former Burberry executive, 39. 'For seven years, my husband and I fought for this dream: multiple rounds of IVF, miscarriages, and an endless hope that slowly eroded. 'It cost me everything I once loved: my marriage, my home, my career, my sense of self. It took two and a half years to grieve, to rebuild, to finally accept that motherhood might never be part of my story.' Victoria does not seem to be in a relationship with the father, saying: 'Everything I had dreamed of sharing with someone was no longer my reality. Deciding to keep this baby has been the bravest choice of my life.' ITV has made much of the danger faced by participants in its much-hyped series, Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, in which stars including Countdown's Rachel Riley and Call The Midwife actress Helen George swim with the fearsome predators. One of the stars, Sir Lenny Henry, appears, however, to have revealed the truth about the 'reality' programme. 'We survived,' says the actor and comedian, 66. 'I was aware that ITV don't want anybody of a celebrity nature to be eaten on television.'
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night's TV: Keep off the NHS wards Netflix, and leave it to the experts at Channel 5
Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts (Ch5) Rating: Channel 5 is the home of shows about farmers, compilations of royal archive footage, and wistfully nostalgic celebrations of chocolate bars in the 1970s. You don't switch on expecting to see 15-part international political thrillers with Emmy-winning performances from Hollywood superstars and CGI spectaculars where terrorists blow up the White House. That is best left to the mega-budget streaming services. So why on earth is Netflix making a formulaic, NHS-by-numbers hospital documentary, when that's the speciality of traditional broadcasters with limited funds? Critical: Between Life And Death is a carbon copy of shows aired every week, not only on Ch5 but on the BBC and Ch4. Each series has its own angle: Ambulance follows the paramedic crews, Surgeons: At The Edge Of Life goes into the operating theatre, and 24 Hours In A&E charts the frantic pace on emergency wards. All of them are polished, well-practised productions. It's arrogant of Netflix to assume they can elbow their way into this market and give the formula a new twist. They can't: the six episodes of Critical feel robotic and slightly insincere, a cynical attempt to steal another broadcaster's successful format. The series is filmed across London 's Major Trauma System, a network of teams within the NHS. 'It's a big orchestra working together,' the voiceover explains, 'and everyone leaves their mark' — a vacuous and meaningless statement. The first episode follows the aftermath of an accident at a fairground, where several people including a 12-year-old girl have been injured on a ride. The injuries seem severe at first, with one woman suffering a fractured skull, but everyone escapes with their lives and the odd broken bone. The drama of this is dragged out for 40 minutes, at the same relentless pitch of anxiety throughout. There are no other storylines, no moments of humour or asides, with the result that the whole show becomes a trudge. Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts, returning for its tenth series on Ch5, demonstrates how it should be done. The cheery voice of actor Dean Andrews begins by introducing us to the staff on duty, who this time include a ward sister called Jane who reveals a stash of lollipops and choccie bars — fuel for the busy day. 'Get ready to share a shift with the team at Barnsley Casualty,' announces Dean, with the chirpiness of a man on his way to the vending machine for a cup of milky coffee with two sugars. There's nothing as cataclysmic as a disaster at the fairground, but the medical emergencies grip our emotions because the film-makers know what really matters: people, not procedures. John, 67, fell and broke his wrist while feeding the cat. Nine-year-old Alice snapped her collarbone, and doesn't know whether to be horrified or thrilled by her predicament. And dog-walker Cerys, 21, keeps having asthma attacks . . . because she's allergic to dogs. Possibly time for a career change.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
EastEnders fans stunned as soap icon returns to TV leaving them 'obsessed'
Soap fans were thrilled by the unexpected return of EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison to TV screens after she opened up on her financial struggles since leaving Walford A fan-favourite EastEnders made an unexpected return to TV, leaving viewers thrilled. Cheryl Fergison, who played the iconic Heather Trott on the BBC soap, has been open about her lack of work in recent years. The actress revealed her financial struggles after leaving the soap in 2012, and shared how she got help from a foodbank as well as EastEnders legend Dame Barbara Windsor. Following the challenging time, Cheryl has made a comeback to the small screen. She shocked viewers when she rocked up in BBC Two's comedy series Mandy. The actress made a guest appearance in the show, which is written by Diane Morgan. It follows the goings on of permanently out-of-work Mandy Carter and her best friend Lola. Mandy was forced to attend a restart scheme at her local job centre, where she encountered an unimpressed Stella, played by Cheryl. Stella only said one worked to Mandy, as she called her "dirty". Cheryl's fans were thrilled by her return to screens as one said: "Obsessed with Cheryl 'two words' Fergison. She did a cracking job." Another added: "Congrats Cheryl!" Someone else commented: "Can we talk about the amount of cameos in Mandy cuz what do u mean Cheryl Fergison and Martin Lewis casually popped up within the first ep of series 4?" A fourth declared: "Ar Cheryl is in the new season of Mandy." While on EastEnders, Cheryl racked up a huge fan following until her character was sensationally killed off. Ben Mitchell smacked her over the head with a picture frame, causing her to hit her head on the way to the floor. Life after the soap hasn't been quite so straightforward, with Cheryl opening up on her struggles earlier this year. She revealed she had turned to a food bank for help and was relying on benefits. In order to try and make ends meet, Cheryl settled for far smaller jobs including opening a Chinese takeaway in Cleveleys earlier this year. The actress told 'My health is good, but my finances will take a long time to recover. Until I have steady work, I'm not rich or comfortable—I'm just surviving. "I've been saying yes to everything for no money, but I need to start valuing my work and asking for fair pay. Even my agent insists on it.' She added: 'Still, I'll never give in. I want to keep singing. If people criticise me for singing in small restaurants, so be it. At the end of the day, I'm an entertainer. Community has always been important to me, and I'll perform no matter the crowd.' Once at the top of her game as a primetime BBC star, Cheryl fell into dire straits after she was conned out of a 'humungous' amount of money. She said on This Morning: 'There is a circumstance that started this, which I can't talk about at this moment in time, but it started to spiral. "The only way I can say it is I was conned out of a humongous amount of money. That led to the cancer thing and everything spiralled. I was robbing Peter to pay Paul. I ended up having to sell my house. Now I am living up north and renting."
