Sacked Masterchef star Gregg Wallace vows ‘I will not go quietly' and accuses the BBC of 'uncorroborated tittle-tattle' as 50 more sexual misconduct allegations come to light
The TV presenter condemned the corporation yesterday, saying he had been cleared of 'the most serious and sensational accusations'.
But last night BBC News reported that 50 more people had made fresh claims against him – including allegations he groped one MasterChef worker and pulled his trousers down in front of another. Wallace denies the allegations.
The 60-year-old had stepped down from the show in November while complaints from 13 women about historical claims of misconduct were investigated.
Ahead of the release of the independent report, which was conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin on behalf of production company Banijay UK, Wallace wrote on social media: 'After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damned to protect others.' The former greengrocer added that 'the most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation'.
He accused BBC News of 'uncorroborated tittle-tattle' in its reporting.
A source close to Wallace said he had been cleared of the most high-profile allegations that had been brought by Penny Lancaster and Kirsty Wark. He said he had recognised 'that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate' for which he apologised 'without reservation'.
'I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all,' Wallace added.
'For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem.'
He accused the corporation of 'pressing baseless and sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories'.
The fresh allegations reported by BBC News include inappropriate sexual comments, and 11 women who accuse him of inappropriate sexual behaviour, such as groping and touching. One anonymous woman accused him of pulling his trousers down in front of her in a dressing room, in what she described as 'disgusting and predatory' behaviour.
While another said she was left feeling 'absolutely horrified' and 'quite sick' when he groped her.
Wallace, who was recently diagnosed with autism, vowed 'I will not go quietly' as he said the full 200-page report will not be published, with the BBC instead set to release an executive summary tomorrow. The axing comes nine months after the investigation was launched into his behaviour on the BBC1 hit cooking show, and invited those who had worked or appeared with Wallace to share their experiences.
Thirteen complaints from women – which later rose to 30 – about historical allegations of misconduct were investigated, while celebrities including Ms Wark and Ms Lancaster spoke out.
Further categories in which he is believed to have been cleared include nicknames for staff which some considered 'demeaning' and being 'direct' with contestants, both of which the investigation team say were unintentional.
However, some allegations are said to have been upheld, including that he put a sock over his private parts and opened his dressing room door shouting 'hooray'.
Last night, a spokesman for the BBC made clear that Wallace was not an employee of the corporation, adding: '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.'
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