BBC cancels MasterChef Natal after scandal with presenter - MediaTalks on Facto News

London – The BBC network announced on Tuesday (3) the cancellation of the MasterChef Christmas specials, “Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off” and “MasterChef Strictly Festive Extravaganza”, following a sexual misconduct scandal involving presenter Gregg Wallace, from 60 years.

One of the most popular figures on British TV, he was accused last week of inappropriate sexual comments and inappropriate behavior over 17 years, involving 13 people on different programs.

Wallace made the situation worse by referring to the complainants as “middle class women of a certain age” in an Instagram post published on Sunday.

Even though he apologized for the comment the next day, claiming to be under stress and feeling “besieged”, Wallace fell out of favor, forcing the BBC to backtrack and cancel end-of-year programs, which the network had initially said it would not do.

Faced with public pressure, a spokesperson for the network justified the change of position by stating that although MasterChef is a highly relevant competition, the Christmas specials are of a “different nature”.

And considering the “current context”, he chose not to show the productions already recorded and edited.

The decision not to show the programs came after strong criticism even from members of the government in the face of statements from women who confirmed that they had reported cases of inappropriate conduct without anything having been done to the presenter.

Who is the BBC MasterChef presenter involved in the scandal

Born in south London, Greg Wallace started working at the age of 15 as an assistant in a fruit and vegetable market.

He then opened his own business and entered the restaurant business. In 2014 the operations went bankrupt with large debts.

Since 2005, Wallace has worked on MasterChef, initially as a judge and then as a presenter.

In 2022 he was awarded the OBE on Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, for his contribution to television, the food sector and his charitable activities.

Gregg Wallace, MasterChef presenter, receiving the OBE award (photo: Instagram)

He has a business empire around his performance on MasterChef, involving books, presentations and lectures.

Celebrities confirmed allegations against MasterChef presenter

BBC presenter Kirsty Wark was one of the first women to publicly accuse Wallace of inappropriate behavior, in an interview with BBC News last week.

She said that sexual jokes made people uncomfortable, and that she even took the case to an executive at the production company responsible for MasterChef. But nothing was done.

Among those who came forward to confirm the allegations is a winner of Celebrity MasterChef, the actress and writer Emma Kennedy.

In a social media post, she revealed that she complained about him in 2012 after witnessing his inappropriate conduct towards a woman who worked on the program, and that the BBC also did nothing.

Another speaker was singer Rod Stewart, whose wife, Penny Lancaster, previously competed on Celebrity MasterChef. He wrote:

“So Gregg Wallace got fired from Masterchef . Good riddance, Wallace.

You humiliated my wife when she was (…) on the show, but you cut that part out, didn’t you?”

Reports of inappropriate behavior and toxic environment on BBC MasterChef

The accusations against Gregg Wallace focus on two main points: inappropriate sexual behavior and creating a toxic work environment.

The 13 women who accuse him, and whose reports span 17 years, point to a pattern of abusive behavior.

Women report that Wallace made inappropriate comments about their bodies and behaviors, creating a humiliating and embarrassing environment.

The case of chef Jackie Kearney, who claims to have been “crying in the bathroom” after a comment by Wallace, illustrates the seriousness of these attitudes.

The complaints also describe MasterChef as a toxic work environment where Wallace’s inappropriate behavior would be tolerated.

There are reports that he spoke openly about his sex life, made lewd comments and exposed himself inappropriately.

Another report was that he asked a sign language translator to translate foul words during a recording with an audience in the studio, embarrassing her and those who watched.

BBC is experiencing yet another scandal involving one of its presenters

Wallace’s initial response to the allegations, describing his accusers as “middle-class women of a certain age,” demonstrates an attempt to discredit the victims and minimize the seriousness of their allegations.

This attitude of the presenter, seen as arrogant and misogynistic, contributed to the intensification of the crisis and the cancellation of the program’s Christmas specials, a way for the BBC to distance itself from the scandal and protect its image.

MasterChef producer Banijay UK said it had launched an investigation into Wallace’s behavior and added that the presenter was “committed to co-operating fully throughout the process”.

But the BBC’s reputation has been badly damaged, as accusations of covering up inappropriate conduct by star cast members are a stain on its more than 100-year history.

The most serious case was that of Jimmy Savile, a children’s program presenter who committed abuse for decades and died before being held accountable.