Gregg Wallace dropped from BBC over lack of confidence he could ‘change behaviour'
A letter of dismissal to the former MasterChef presenter from the head of compliance for BBC television states she cannot be sure his presence on a show would allow for 'a sufficiently safe and respectful environment' for others.
The letter from Claire Powell, head of compliance for BBC Television, states that she took into consideration his recent diagnosis of autism, which Wallace himself suggested had made the MasterChef set a 'dangerous environment' for him.
She concluded that he 'struggled to distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace', despite being given relevant training in 2019.
Wallace stood aside from presenting MasterChef in November after BBC News reported a series of allegations being made against him by 13 people, who worked with Wallace across a 17-year period.
A report into his behaviour, overseen by law firm Lewis Silkin, was then commissioned by MasterChef's producers Banijay. The report's findings are expected imminently.
Wallace has already admitted using inappropriate language and apologised, but claimed earlier this week to have been cleared of 'the most serious and sensational accusations made against me'.
Powell's letter, obtained by the Telegraph, said the corporation had taken into account that Wallace was a presenter on a flagship BBC show and referred to the 'impact that your comments had on the BBC's reputation'.
'I have also taken into account whether your behaviour could be improved with training and/or coaching,' she stated. '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.
'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.'
The Telegraph also reported Wallace was preparing to sue the BBC for discrimination. The 60-year-old has revealed a recent autism diagnosis. In a statement early this week, he 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'.
BBC insiders have suggested his dismissal had nothing to do with his autism diagnosis and was down to his behaviour.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Man given suspended sentence for sending racist death threats to Rishi Sunak
A man has been given a suspended prison sentence for sending racist death threats to former prime minister Rishi Sunak. Liam Shaw, 21, of Birkenhead, sent two threatening and offensive emails to the public email address of Mr Sunak on June 15 last year when the former Conservative leader was still prime minister, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. The emails were spotted by Mr Sunak's personal assistant and reported to the police. The CPS said the language in the two emails was 'racist, offensive and suggested Mr Sunak should be killed by the public'. The emails had been sent by Shaw's phone and police traced them to his email address and a hostel where he was staying in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Shaw was arrested by police on September 3 2024 and charged with two counts of sending by a public communication network an offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing message. When the allegations were put to him by police, Shaw said: 'I don't even remember sending an email. I was probably drunk.' Shaw pleaded guilty to both counts at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on July 10 2025. He was sentenced at the same court on Wednesday to 14 weeks' imprisonment for both counts, to run concurrently, with the sentence suspended for 12 months. Shaw must also complete 20 days of a rehabilitation activity and a six-month drug rehabilitation course. The CPS also successfully applied for a restraining order which the court imposed for two years – it states that Shaw must have no contact with Mr Sunak or his constituency office in that time. District Judge Timothy Boswell said at the sentencing: 'Direct access to your constituency MP is a cornerstone of democracy. Misusing that access is detrimental to the democratic process. Clearly it is a highly aggravating factor for the offence.' Senior Crown prosecutor Matthew Dixon, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said: 'Liam Shaw took to his phone that night to send racist and threatening messages to a person in an extremely important public office. 'The work of Members of Parliament is extremely important and the police and the Crown Prosecution Service play their part in keeping them safe and able to do their work without fear. 'The Crown Prosecution Service has always and will continue to safeguard a person's right to freedom of expression. 'But this is clearly a case where the comments made were utterly beyond the boundary of what is tolerable in a fair, just and multi-racial society, and passed into the realm of criminality. 'Racist abuse has no place, anywhere, in this day and age.'
Scottish Sun
21 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Destination X reveals savage ‘sabotage' twist as player handed game-changing advantage ahead of brutal cliffhanger
DESTINATION X unveiled a brutal 'sabotage' twist - with one player receiving a huge advantage amid a savage cliffhanger. The BBC programme sees a group of strangers try to figure out where they are in Europe through a series of clues in a bid to win £100,000. 5 Viewers have been gripped by new competition series Destination X Credit: BBC 5 Host Rob Brydon revealed a game-changing twist to one player Credit: BBC 5 Josh received massive power within the competitive game Credit: BBC Contestants will try any tactic to win and the latest episode saw one given a massive advantage. The players balance champagne glasses on a tray - while answering tough questions about their opponents. Josh, a 26-year-old pilot, emerged as the victor and soon learned of a huge twist. Host Rob Brydon privately informed Josh that he would have the power to sabotage a rival. Elimination occurs when the line-up place their 'X' markers based on where they believe themselves to be. Josh received the ability to move someone's 'X' by 250km, which could effectively ensure their exit. Reacting to the game-changing news, he said: "I feel like I've got a lot of influence on the game, which I like having." Josh also didn't have to take part in the next challenge - but got to see a big clue alongside the winners. Elsewhere, he identified fellow players Nick, Judith and Claire as potential targets for sabotage. Although Josh seemingly planned to choose Nick, viewers will have to learn the outcome. Destination X viewers slam show for being 'too easy' after they guess location - as contestant makes huge clue blunder This episode ended on a tense cliffhanger - with Rob having dropped a huge bombshell. Namely, that the bottom two players' X markers were only 600 metres apart. One viewer wrote online: "The sabotage is not fair." Another remarked: "Sorry but why did Josh get to win a ridiculously overpowered advantage AND get the winning clue just from the standard side game??" Whether Nick - who was identified by the others as the biggest threat - has his exit sealed or survives to play on remains to be seen. Viewers will also have to wait to discover where exactly the latest Destination X is. Players and fans alike seem to agree it's Italy, but are divided on the precise spot. One person wrote on X: "They're defo on the south of Italy near Sicily." Another penned: "Changed me mind, Italy, Venice?" A third chimed in: "Donatella Versace. That drink looks like a Campari Spritz. Milan?" Destination X continues on BBC One and iPlayer. 5 Josh had a big decision to make Credit: BBC
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
Tyson Fury's plane forced to land shortly after takeoff as ‘problem found' with boxing star & family left ‘terrified'
TYSON Fury was left "terrified" after a jet he was travelling on was forced to land shortly after takeoff due to a "problem" with the aircraft. The retired heavyweight boxer was travelling with his family after marrying his wife Paris for the third time, 17 years after they first tied the knot. 3 3 3 However, their transport plans were scuppered after the jet they were aboard was forced to turn around mid-air and return to where it took off from after travelling just "100 miles". Speaking to his fans on Instagram, Tyson explained how there had been a "problem with one of the wings" on the aircraft, meaning it had to "turn around". He said: "So, we've travelled 100 miles on the plane and the captain's come over to me and said 'we've got to turn this plane around because there's a problem with one of the wings and it won't fix on the computer so we gotta try and get back and turn around'". The Gypsy King, 37, filmed the clip while onboard the aircraft, saying he was left "terrified" by the flight scare. He said: "Talk about totally sh***ing yourself. So we're now spinning the plane around and going back to the airport where we started. Terrifying." Clips from his stories on Instagram show the family aboard the aircraft as it turns back to where it took off from. Tyson captioned the video as "bad news". This comes after the retired heavyweight boxer tied the knot for the third time with his wife Paris. Fury first wed Paris in 2008, with his beloved wife having been by his side throughout his incredible career. The couple have seven children together; sons Prince John James, 13, Prince Tyson II, nine, Prince Adonis Amaziah, six, and Prince Rico, two, and daughters Venezuela, 15, Valencia, seven, and Athena, four. All seven kids were by their parents' side in France as they renewed their vows in an intimate ceremony. Posting several pictures from the special occasion to his 6.7 million Instagram followers, the Gypsy King wrote: "Paris Fury and I got married again; third time lucky. "We had the most beautiful day in the South of France, it holds a lot of special memories for us." Fury accompanied his post with Bruno Mars' 2011 hit "Marry You". Paris, 35, appeared to wear a bespoke white dress by self-portrait for the occasion while the Gypsy King wore a relaxed cream shirt, white shorts and sandals. The event took place in a picturesque French church and it appeared to be a family affair, with just the couple's kids in attendance. HAPPILY RETIRED... FOR NOW Fury announced his retirement from boxing in January following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk Last month, however, the Gypsy King's promoter Frank Warren said of his man: "He's made it clear he wants to fight Usyk."
