Gregg Wallace for MasterChef S20 / BBC
Gregg Wallace has vowed that he will “not go quietly” ahead of the publication of a report into his workplace conduct at the BBC.
The long-time MasterChef host stepped aside from the franchise last November after multiple people came forward to allege that he had made inappropriate sexual comments, as well as serious claims of groping, over his two decades at the BBC.
Wallace has acknowledged that he may have made some unacceptable comments during that time but has vehemently denied ever being physically inappropriate with anyone.
MasterChef producer Banijay appointed an independent law firm to investigate the allegations and a summary of the report is expected to be published by the BBC on Thursday.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Wallace pre-empted that report by claiming that it cleared him of the “most serious and sensational” allegations against him, while also criticising BBC News for “peddling baseless and sensationalised gossip”.
However, shortly after Wallace issued his statement, BBC News published details of fresh allegations it claimed to have collected from 50 more complainants, who say that they either directly received or witnessed inappropriate comments, indecent exposure or “groping”.
A spokesperson for Wallace said: “Gregg continues to co-operate fully with the ongoing Banijay UK review and as previously stated, denies engaging in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
Banijay UK said: “While the external investigation is ongoing, we won’t be commenting on individual allegations. We encourage anyone wishing to raise issues or concerns to contact us in confidence.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “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.”
Gregg Wallace statement in full
I have taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins report – a decision I do not take lightly.
But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.
I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.
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.
My decision to go public now is also driven by the fact the BBC News division are intending to platform legally unsafe accusations, including claims which have already been investigated and not upheld by the BBC and found not credible by Silkins.
The BBC is no longer providing balanced and impartial public service journalism. It is peddling baseless and sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories.
The BBC is choosing to allow BBC News to run with this uncorroborated tittle tattle in an attempt to ‘get ahead’ of the Silkin’s summary report and derail what has been an extremely thorough process.
This feels to me like BBC News is chasing slanderous click-bait rather than delivering impartial journalism.
To be clear, the Silkin’s Report exonerates me of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds me primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018.
I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.
I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all. For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand.
Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem.
My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of Master Chef.
Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over twenty years. That failure is now being quietly buried.
Unfortunately, the full report (over 200 pages) will never be seen. Later this week, the BBC will publish a short Executive Summary.
What really concerns me about the short summary is others who have been found guilty of serious allegations have been erased from the published version of events. I, and I’m sure the public, would like to know why?
I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience. I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established.
The full story of this incredible injustice must be told and it is very much a matter of public interest.
