The MASTERCHEF star says she alerted the BBC to Gregg Wallace’s comments seven years ago.
Times Radio presenter Aasmah Mir says she complained to BBC executives about inappropriate comments Wallace allegedly made when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef 2017.
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Aasmah reported Gregg’s ‘unacceptable’ behavior after appearing on Celebrity MasterChefCredit: Getty
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Wallace faced further allegations after withdrawing from his role in the series Credits: Rex
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Aasmah on Celebrity MasterChef with Wallace and John Torode 2017 Credit: BBC
She accused the host of sexist behavior on set that was “unacceptable” and said it should not continue.
Despite being reported by the BBC in 2017, Wallace allegedly continued to humiliate women for the next six years.
In an email to the broadcaster, Aasmah expressed that she did not want to feel guilty if further allegations surfaced in the future.
She told The Times she also sent another email telling the corporation: “This must not happen again to another woman.”
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In a post on X, the radio host described the moment on the show that led to her complaint.
As she waited for the cameras to re-roll the footage, she claims Wallace said he was “telling a BBC colleague ‘she was a hot bitch'”.
Despite being told “in front of everyone”, Aasmah said no one batted an eyelid, prompting her to complain.
The presenter, who hosts a show on Times Radio, added: “I was the first to leave the competition.
“But two contestants, including Ulrika Jonsson, told me afterwards that he told another contestant that the way she was holding the fish ‘looked like a rapist doing foreplay'”.
Despite the lawsuit filed and Wallace’s apology, his behavior allegedly continued.
Gregg Wallace slams ‘middle class women’ for complaining about him
Wallace was also accused of performing a sexual act on a member of staff, as well as stripping and dancing with only a sock on his penis.
Presenter Kirsty Wark told the BBC on Thursday that Wallace had twice “used sexualised language in front of a number of people” when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
Wallace’s lawyers have denied that he engaged in sexually harassing behavior.
Since the allegations emerged, Banijay, owner of TV production company Endemol Shine, which makes MasterChef for the broadcaster, has been under scrutiny by the BBC.
Banijay launched an investigation in which he says Wallace is cooperating.
Aasmah received no response to her initial email and was later told she had gone to the wrong address.
Gregg Wallace attacks ‘middle-class women of a certain age’ for complaining about him amid ‘sexual comments’ investigation
GREGG Wallace condemned “middle-class women of a certain age
The MasterChef host is under investigation after an investigation was launched into his alleged years of misconduct.
It comes after the TV chef was accused of making sexual remarks by 13 colleagues, including Beeb presenter Kirsty Wark – allegations he denies.
Wallace, 60, has stepped down from the BBC show while the historic allegations against him are investigated.
Now Wallace has hit back at the accusations in another bizarre Instagram post.
He told his followers: “I’ve been doing Masterchef for 20 years – amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef and I think in that time I’ve worked with over 4,000 contestants of all ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life.
“I read in the newspaper that at that time there were 13 complaints.
“I see complaints in the papers coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age from Celebrity Masterchef alone.
“This is not right.
“In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, contestants, on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual allusions, can you imagine?”
After passing it on to director Kate Phillips, who now oversees unscripted programming for the BBC, she was told the incident had been reported in March.
However, no one told Aasmah this and she has asked the BBC to ensure that in future the production team and executives inform people when a complaint involving them is recorded.
She felt “horrified” at the idea that this could be an “acceptable culture” on set, the reason behind her belief that the incident was not recorded.
The MasterChef star said it “really poisoned the atmosphere”.
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Aasmah on Celebrity MasterChef 2017
However, Kate responded by saying she would make sure she was “immediately informed” if any allegations resurfaced.
A BBC spokesperson told The Sun: “We take any issues raised seriously and have robust processes to deal with them.
“We have always been clear that any behavior that falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
“Where an individual is directly contracted to an external production company, we share any complaints or concerns with that company and will always support them when approached.
“It would be inappropriate for us to comment on anything that could be part of or otherwise affect Banijay’s ongoing investigation.”
Additionally, in response to reports in The Times and the Telegraph, a BBC source said: “While we will not comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, particularly when there is an ongoing process led by Banijay who has a direct contractual relationship with Gregg Wallace, it would be wrong to report that the BBC did nothing if or when issues were raised with us – not least because it is already widely reported that there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken.
“We continue to urge caution about pre-judging any of this, particularly the involvement of BBC staff members and any inferences that they did not act appropriately.”
TV STARS RELEASE WALLACE’S BEHAVIOR
TV stars have told Gregg Wallace to “shut up and listen” after the MasterChef host made a bizarre rant about “middle-aged women”.
Lord Craig Mackinlay and TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall shared their views on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday.
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Wallace has come under fire for comments he made on social media regarding the allegationsCredit: Instagram
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Lord Craig Mackinlay told Wallace to ‘shut up’ while on Laura Kuenssberg’s Sunday ShowCredit: BBC
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TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall also weighed in on the debateCredit: BBC
In a bizarre Instagram post earlier today, Wallace blasted “middle-class women of a certain age” for complaining about him.
The panel discussed the MasterChef host’s comments with Victoria Derbyshire standing in for Kuenssberg.
When asked about the announcement, Hugh said: “I don’t think the intervention is wise.
“I don’t know Gregg very well, I’ve met him a few times.
“He’s very likeable. He’s very professional on screen.
“I’ve got a very talented chef on Masterchef at the moment, and she’s doing amazing, and I’ve really enjoyed watching her and enjoying Gregg’s presentation.
“I think it’s likely that Gregg has what we might call a crude sense of humor. It clearly offends people.
MasterChef staff given ‘whistle line to report Gregg Wallace’s complaints THREE years AGO’
It is claimed MASTERCHEF staff concerned about Gregg Wallace’s behavior were told to call a whistleblower hotline three years ago.
The TV chef, 60, has quit the BBC show as the historic allegations against him are investigated.
An investigation has been launched against him, which has lasted for 17 years.
He allegedly made sexual comments to 13 colleagues, including former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark.
One witness claimed the former grocer walked into the studio naked except for a “sock over his penis” and then danced.
They also said he mimicked a sexual act while a worker knelt down to clean his pants.
A source has now said production crews have been directed to a toll-free number and website to report issues, including harassment and bullying.
It was at the time Wallace was allegedly behaving inappropriately.
They told The Mirror: “Workers were told about a hotline set up by the production company to report problems.
“It was never specifically said that it was because of Gregg, but that’s what people were referring to when they expressed concerns about him.
“That was three series ago… Some of the MasterChef staff are relieved now that Gregg is gone.”
The film and TV charity launched an abuse hotline in 2021 and was mentioned on the call lists of shows owned by Banijay UK – which is behind MasterChef.
“I think one of the problems is that over the years, people haven’t been able to tell him when he could tone it down a bit, and obviously he’s crossed some lines.
“In terms of the way he defends.
“I understand the instinct when you feel cornered, but I don’t think it’s smart to talk like that when you should probably be listening to additional questions for the BBC at the moment.”
Lord Mackinlay then joined the debate, with the former MP saying: “I don’t know him.
“He was well on his way to becoming a national treasure with the kind of programming he does. Is he, cheesy? Is he a bit lazy?
“I think the barrier has moved over the years and he may have gone too far into lewd behaviour, sexual behaviour, but that needs to be investigated by the inquest and I agree with you.
“It’s probably best for him to shut up at this point and see where it goes.”
Wallace also faced scrutiny from other TV stars after the allegations were revealed and his subsequent statement.
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp also slammed Wallace in a statement on Xu, formerly of Twitter.
She said, “Within 1 hour of meeting Gregg Wallace, he told me about the sexual act he and his then-partner enjoyed ‘every morning,'” she had just left the room, we were filming the pilot.
“Did he get away with how embarrassed I was? It was totally unprofessional, I’m a #MiddleClassWomanOfaCertainAge.”
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Wallace is said to have made sexual comments to 13 colleagues. Credit: BBC
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He has co-hosted MasterChef with John Torode since 2005. Credits: Brochure
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