BBC bans Gregg Wallace over ‘unsafe' behaviour
In a letter of dismissal from Claire Powell, head of compliance for BBC Television, the corporation told Wallace that he had made inappropriate jokes in the workplace and that executives did not 'have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour'.
Wallace has been told that he will not work as a BBC presenter again following the investigation into his behaviour on MasterChef.
He was forced to step down from the programme in November following an investigation by The Telegraph that unearthed a string of allegations made against him.
A report into his behaviour, commissioned by independent production company Banijay and conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, is yet to be published but is understood to have cleared him of the most serious allegations of groping while finding him guilty of making inappropriate comments, which Wallace considered to be 'banter'.
The dismissal letter from the BBC, seen by The Telegraph, said the broadcaster had taken into account that 'you were a presenter on a flagship BBC show' and noted 'the impact that your comments had on the BBC's reputation'.
It went on: 'I have also taken into account whether your behaviour could be improved with training and/or coaching. However, having reviewed the 2025 findings, I do not have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour for you to make what you perceive to be jokes in the working environment, without understanding the boundaries of what is appropriate.
'I also have to consider the fact that various people in the BBC have spoken to you about your behaviour over the course of your career, and that you also already received training/coaching in 2019.'
The letter added: 'I have further taken into account the 2025 findings as they relate to your health and recent autism diagnosis (as you have publicly stated).
'I have noted that you do not consider certain environments to now be 'safe' for you. In addition to the duty of care towards you, the BBC equally to take into account the safety and duty of care owed towards contributors, members of the public and colleagues on production teams that you may engage with and the appropriate use of licence fee payers' money in establishing a safe working environment for all.
'The 2025 findings reflect that you acknowledge some of your comments have offended or upset people, but it is clear that you struggle to distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, as well as lacking awareness of why your behaviour impacts others.
'I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change to ensure there is a sufficiently safe and respectful environment for others working with you in the types of programmes the BBC has engaged you to present. Such productions are not heavily scripted programmes and involve sound and consistent levels of judgment in relation to interactions with others which cannot constantly be monitored or supervised.'
Wallace to sue for discrimination
The 60-year-old was recently diagnosed with autism and has accused the BBC of failing 'to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years'.
The presenter is preparing to sue the corporation for discrimination.
Friends of Wallace said: 'He's been formally diagnosed with autism – a recognised disability – and yet the BBC is effectively saying it can't cope with a disabled person.
'Wrap that in as many safeguarding policies as you like, it still sounds a lot like discrimination. This is why he has been sacked.'
One of the allegations made against Wallace was that he dropped his trousers in front of a crew member on MasterChef. She alleged that he invited her into his dressing room in 2012, saying that he needed help to get changed for a black tie event, then pushed her down onto a sofa and pulled his trousers down.
Friends of Wallace have since claimed that he has 'an inability to wear underwear because of his autistic hypersensitivity to labels and tight clothing'.
However, Emily Banks, the founder of neurodiversity training body Enna, told BBC News: 'To be clear: being autistic is never an excuse for misconduct. It doesn't absolve anyone of responsibility, and it certainly doesn't mean you can't tell the difference between right and wrong.'
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