GREG Wallace’s future on MasterChef was under fire last night after it emerged he was being investigated over inappropriate sexual comments made to a BBC employee.
Bosses sacked a presenter in 2018 for taking off his top and bragging about antics, we can reveal for the first time.
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Gregg Wallace is under investigation for making inappropriate sexual comments to a BBC employee Credit: Rex
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The Chiefs fired Wallace in 2018 for taking off his top and bragging about riotsCredit: Instagram
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Wallace with MasterChef co-host John Torode Credit: BBC
He was also accused of being rude and insulting women in another show in 2023.
Last week the BBC promised to crack down on bad behaviour.
But the insider questioned why Wallace was allowed to stay on the leading cookery show “despite allegations about his behaviour”.
The BBC will now face fresh questions about why the 59-year-old was kept on despite vowing to clean up her workplace culture after a series of scandals.
Insiders told The Sun that concerns were raised about his behavior six years ago – when he was accused of making “inappropriate sexual comments” to fellow BBC show Impossible Celebrities.
He was brought in for a meeting after claims he bragged about his sex life and took off his top in front of a woman, “humiliating” members of the production team.
Wallace was then hit by allegations last year that he spoke to women in a “derogatory” manner while filming the BBC’s Inside The Factory.
A source said: “There are questions about the decision to allow Gregg to continue on MasterChef despite these previous incidents.
“The BBC says it wants to clear up issues around workplace culture but has allowed Gregg to stay on the main show despite allegations about his behaviour.”
Gregg Wallace of Masterchef fame horrified after star’s HUGE mistake
The 2018 incident was not reported until an insider contacted The Sun after the BBC published a workplace culture review last week, promising to tackle “abusive behaviour”.
Wallace was reported to BBC bosses for making “consistent inappropriate comments” to a younger woman while they were working on Impossible Celebrities.
They also claimed audience members allegedly overheard comments made by Wallace, who said it was “just a joke”.
A source told The Sun last night: “Gregg has been accused of making inappropriate comments to a younger, female member of the production team.
“It is said that at that time he was bragging about his sex life with his partner. At one point, Gregg was also accused of removing his top in front of a woman, which seemed inappropriate. Gregg seemed to think it was all a joke and reportedly made some comments in front of the live audience.
“The team working on the show were horrified and told the top of the BBC what had happened.”
Gregg broke the silence
Gregg spoke out about the allegations today and admitted he made the comments but denied they were sexual.
He emphasized that he loves his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini, whom he married in 2016.
The TV star said: “According to what is written in the papers, the BBC investigated these allegations six years ago.
“The allegations were investigated six years ago and my comments were found to be non-sexual.
“I repeat, not sexually. Thank you all for your time.
“I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way and make it look like I was flirting with someone. No one has accused me of that and I never have.”
Speaking about his marriage to Anna, who is 22 years his junior, Gregg continued: “Another thing I feel very strongly about, strongly enough to be here, no one has accused me of flirting with anyone or being I blame anyone.
“And that’s important to me, and I’m saying that for my wife Anna, whom I’ve been faithful to and madly in love with since the day I met her.”
Ordered to change behavior
Wallace, who has been married four times, was ordered to change his behavior after a complaint about Impossible Celebrities.
The source continued: “The BBC took immediate action and Gregg was invited to a meeting with them. He made it clear he meant nothing by what he said, but he was read the riot act and told to change his behavior.”
However, he stepped down from the BBC show Inside The Factory last year after allegations he was “rude to staff and continued to speak in a derogatory manner, particularly to women”.
The incident, reported by The Times, is said to have taken place during an episode filmed at the Nestle factory in York.
A complaint about Wallace’s language was made to the production company Voltage TV.
Gregg was accused of making inappropriate comments to a younger, female member of the production team
The source of the sun
They spoke to the host and told him to “moderate” it. Wallace was said to be “appalled” that he had “caused such offence”.
The non-sexual allegations are said to have played a role in his decision to quit the role after seven series. He later hit back and confirmed that while there was an “argument” at the factory, it was “not abusive”.
Wallace said: “There was an altercation within the factory, the reports are not correct. There was a problem and I thought this was the perfect time to get out.”
He continued: “I don’t want to argue about it, but it wasn’t what the papers said.
“There was nothing offensive to anyone, people are just speculating about that. It was a decent time to go out.”
Despite these incidents, Wallace continued to host MasterChef with John Torode.
The couple has been leading the popular cooking competition since 2005.
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Wallace’s future on MasterChef was in doubtCredit: BBC
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Wallace and fourth wife Anna Credit: © Neil Genower
The latest allegations emerged after the BBC’s job review was published last Friday.
It follows a series of scandals that have plagued the organization in recent months.
These include the scandal over former BBC journalist Huw Edwards’ child sex photos and the Strictly Come Dancing abuse investigation.
In a statement, the BBC said it aimed to crack down on “abuse of power”.
BBC chairman Samir Shah said: “I cannot stress enough that I am fully committed to tackling inappropriate or offensive behaviour.
It is said that at that time he was bragging about his sex life with his partner. At one point, Gregg was also accused of removing his top in front of a woman, which seemed inappropriate
The source of the sun
“Working for the BBC is a pleasure for most of us and it should be for everyone.
“No one who works at the BBC should ever feel fear or worry while working here.
“What I am clear about is that we need to ensure that the BBC is a safe, secure and welcoming workplace for everyone.”
The BBC investigation aims to “ensure that everyone understands the consequences of inappropriate behavior and abuse of power”.
A spokesman said he intended to publish the report next spring.
Wallace started out as a trader before moving into broadcasting. He has three children, including one with fourth wife Anna, whom he met on Twitter in 2013.
Of the latest allegations, a BBC spokesperson said: “While we do not comment on individuals, if issues do arise they are dealt with quickly and appropriately.
“We do not tolerate any form of inappropriate behavior and have robust processes in place.”
Wallace’s representatives said, “No comment.”
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Wallace has been accused of making ‘inappropriate sexual comments’ to staff on the BBC’s Impossible Celebrities
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