Gregg Wallace to step away from MasterChef while misconduct complaints investigated

Gregg Wallace will step away from presenting MasterChef while complaints about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated.

Since 2005, Wallace has been co-presenter and judge on the BBC cooking show alongside John Torode.

Wallace, 60, said he is “committed to fully co-operating throughout the process”, according to a statement from the show’s production company Banijay UK.

The statement says: “This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.

“Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.

“While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process.”

A BBC review last month found that Wallace could continue working at the corporation after reports emerged of an alleged incident in 2018 when he appeared on Impossible Celebrities, according to The Sun newspaper.

Responding to the allegations, Wallace said he did not say “anything sexual” while appearing on the game show.

A BBC spokesperson added: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.

“We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.

“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”

The broadcaster is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside Torode, as well as its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.

Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Wallace will transmit as planned, with the next episode due to air on Thursday.

Wallace was the original presenter of the BBC show Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has also featured on Eat Well For Less, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest and Supermarket Secrets.

He was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022 for his services to food and charity.

Wallace took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 and was partnered with Aliona Vilani.

He has two children, Tom and Libby, from a former relationship. He married Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2016 and the couple have a son called Sid.