John Torode, left, and Gregg Wallace have presented MasterChef since 2005
A second MasterChef contestant has been edited out of this year’s scandal-hit series, BBC News can reveal.
A spokesperson for the show’s production company, Banijay, said: “One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included. We have of course accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show.”
Another contestant, Sarah Shafi, was also removed from the series after asking for it not to be broadcast, following a report which upheld claims against hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
The BBC decided to still show this year’s amateur series, which was filmed before the pair were sacked, saying it was “the right thing to do” for the chefs who took part.
But it faced a backlash from some women who came forward, while the broadcast union Bectu said bad behaviour “should not be rewarded with prime-time coverage”.
Former Celebrity MasterChef contestant and BBC journalist Kirsty Wark also suggested the BBC could have refilmed the series without the two co-hosts.
In the event, both Wallace and Torode remain in the series, which began last week on BBC One and on iPlayer.
But the episodes appear to have been edited to include fewer jokes than usual, with less chat between them and the chefs.
The episode which would have featured the second contestant was broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday night, but only featured five chefs rather than the usual six.
BBC News understands the individual has asked not to be identified and they will not feature in the show.
It’s believed Shafi’s episode has not yet aired.
The BBC previously said it had not been “an easy decision” to run the series, adding that there was “widespread support” among the chefs for it going ahead.
“In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters,” it said.
“However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.”
Upheld complaints
The controversy over MasterChef started last year, when BBC News first revealed claims of misconduct against Wallace.
Last month, a report by the show’s production company Banijay revealed that 83 complaints had been made against Wallace with more than 40 upheld, including one of unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress.
He has insisted he was cleared of “the most serious and sensational allegations”.
In a recent interview with The Sun, he said he was “so sorry” to anyone he hurt, but insisted that he was “not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher”.
The upheld complaint against Torode related to a severely offensive racist term allegedly used on the set of MasterChef in 2018.
The presenter said he had “no recollection” of it and that any racist language is “wholly unacceptable”.
Wallace will be replaced by Irish chef Anna Haugh in the final episodes of the new series, as that is when the allegations against him first emerged during filming in November.
MasterChef is returning tonight with hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode as its presenters, despite the pair being recently fired from the BBC One series following an investigation
MasterChef fans threaten to boycott over Gregg Wallace and John Torode inclusion(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
MasterChef fans are furious that former hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode are included in tonight’s episode of the BBC programme. The duo were recently axed from the series for different reasons after Wallace was initially under investigation over complaints made about his behaviour.
Wallace was axed from the series after law firm Lewis Silkin upheld 45 out of 85 complaints against him of inappropriate behaviour. While the 60-year-old has admitted to using inappropriate language at times, he denies the more serious allegations. Meanwhile, co-host Torode did not have his contract renewed with Banijay UK, who make MasterChef, after he was alleged to have used racist language amid an investigation into his former co-star’s behaviour.
While the duo have been axed from the programme, they are still featuring in tonight’s episode of MasterChef, much to the disappointment of fans.
They rushed to social media to express their anger as they threatened to boycott the series for showing the two hosts on our screens this evening.
One user said on X/Twitter: “The decision to screen MasterChef tonight is unforgivable. There was no need to show this next series on BBC when they could’ve just streamed it on iPlayer and people who wanted to watch it would still have been able to. We will switch BBC off.”
Some fans were annoyed with the two former hosts’ inclusion(Image: BBC)
“I hope no one watches #MasterChef #BBC,” said one user along with an angry face emoji. One added: “ou shouldn’t be showing it either. Poor decision Mr Davie. I think your days are numbered.”
Another fan was convinced: “#MasterChef will contain some type of message this evening or it would have been pulled.”
The latest series of MasterChef landed on BBC iPlayer this morning before airing on BBC One at 8pm. There had been concern over the future of the already filmed series following both Wallace and Torode’s axe.
However, they both appear in the introduction shots of the first episode. Torode said: “This is the sort of stuff that dreams are made of”, while Wallace told a contestant: “That is a cracker of a job”.
Despite both Wallace and Torode appearing in the episode, their screen time has tanked compared to previous series. BBC bosses have begun to airbrush the pair out of MasterChef – reducing screen time and removing them from promotional pictures on iPlayer.
THEY were the larger than life characters who ruled the MasterChef kitchen for 20 years.
But as Gregg Wallace and John Torode’s reign as judges ended under a murky cloud of accusations of sexist and racist language, the relationship between the two men publicly soured quicker than warm milk.
9
John Torode and Gregg Wallace have co-presented MasterChef for 20 yearsCredit: Twitter/John Torode
9
The duo’s reign as judges on the show ended under a murky cloud of accusations of sexist and racist languageCredit: PA
9
Despite their on-screen chemistry winning them an army of fans, their relationship behind the scenes seems unconventional to say the leastCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
They may have known each other for more than 30 years, but their relationship has always been complicated.
But those who know Wallace, 60, and Torode, 59, best are unlikely to be surprised that battle lines were drawn.
Despite their on-screen chemistry winning them an army of fans, their relationship behind the scenes seems unconventional to say the least.
As Torode once said bluntly: “It’s funny, we’ve never been friends.”
After moving to the UK in the 1990s, Australian Torode was working at a London restaurant when he first encountered Wallace, who was the owner of George Allan’s Greengrocers.
And despite their good working relationship as chef and supplier, in 2013 Torode spoke about his doubts about Wallace for MasterChef.
“In 2005 I was asked to go to an interview about some cooking show and Karen Ross, the boss at Shine, the production company involved, said, ‘I’d love you to do it, but I need to audition people to partner you with.’ I had everyone from AA Gill to Oliver Peyton,” he told The Independent.
“One day she asked, ‘Do you know a guy called Gregg Wallace?’ I had misgivings, as Gregg was big, brash and loud.
The Gregg Wallace Interview Part Two
“Actually, nothing has changed, except no one expected the success the show has had.”
And Wallace had a similar view of Torode from their old days, recalling their first meeting: “It was a hot day and the kitchen door was open into the alleyway and I saw this young brash Aussie chef with his trousers rolled up around his knees, a tartan baseball cap, and a voice that was as loud as his attire.”
But working together so closely filming MasterChef – which returned today – was always going to take its toll on two big characters.
Torode told The Independent: “Spending 200 days a year filming together, we got a lot closer, but any relationship where you spend that much time together inevitably gets strained.
“We used to fight about stuff, as we’re both so opinionated. In the first series it was over [eventual winner] Thomasina Miers, as Gregg had said, ‘There’s no way I want her.’
“Then in the second round he said, ‘I want her.’ And I said, ‘You git, how can you hate someone vehemently one day then like them?’”
6am phone calls
9
Torode claimed Gregg used to call him up at 6amCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
9
Torode said the pair used to fight about stuff because they’re “both so opinionated”Credit: IAN YATES/FAMOUS
Wallace has said there is no-one he is closer to, other than his mum, than Torode and has praised his former co-star for supporting him with his mental health struggles.
But it has seemed that it is Torode who has wanted to keep their relationship purely professional, complaining about everything from Wallace’s 6am phone calls to his OCD tendencies.
Speaking to The Times in 2022, Torode said: “We know each other so well. But that’s not to say we don’t have our moments.
“With Gregg my issue is the 6am phone calls. Last time it happened I wasn’t very happy and I said, ‘Gregg, mate, it’s 6am.’ And he said, ‘But you’re on my list!’
“That’s the thing with Gregg, he gets up very early and his whole life is diarised and run on lists. Anyway, the next time I saw him face to face I sensed that disturbance in the force — I knew there was something wrong. I said, ‘Mate, come on, what’s up?’
“He said, ‘You weren’t very nice to me on the phone the other morning.’ I said, ‘It was 6am!’ and he said, ‘But I get up at 5am and you were on my list!’
Best man… but ‘not friends’
9
Torode was Wallace’s best man at his fourth wedding to Anne-Marie Sterpini
But in 2013 Torode was the one who said he would be open to expanding their friendship, but Wallace’s OCD made it complicated.
He claimed: “Gregg has rules in the dressing-room that are pretty easy to understand as they are vocalised quite often.
“Things like, ‘Don’t put anything on my table, don’t touch my stuff and stay on the left-hand side of the room until lunch.’
“I know that, with his OCD, if I went to his house, say, I’d have to sit in a certain place. It’s frustrating, as I’m open [to expanding the friendship], but I don’t feel Gregg is.
“But he’s also given me so much: he’s taught me the importance of being self-deprecating and he’s made me laugh at myself. He’s fun and very funny.”
But it was just a year later that Torode said they weren’t even friends.
“It’s funny, we’ve never been friends,” he told The Mirror.
“We’ve not been to each other’s houses… He’s so OCD, he wouldn’t know what to do. He’d build it up in his mind for three days, and probably make himself quite sick, then he’d have an argument with his wife and not turn up.
“If I went to his house, he would feel like he wasn’t in control.”
Fractured
9
The duo fell out over series one winner Thomasina MiersCredit: Camera Press
Whatever their relationship was before the MasterChef scandal saw them both out of a job, it seems that it is now fractured beyond repair.
The pair were both fired by the BBC last month after a report into the cooking show upheld allegations against them.
The report revealed that more than 40 complaints against Wallace had been upheld, including one of unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress.
He has insisted he was cleared of “the most serious and sensational allegations”.
The upheld complaint against Torode related to a severely offensive racist term allegedly used on the set of MasterChef in 2018.
The presenter said he had “no recollection” of it and that any racist language is “wholly unacceptable”.
Despite unfollowing Torode and his wife Lisa on social media, Wallace defended Torode in an interview with The Sun, saying: “I’ve known John for 30 years and he is not a racist.”
But he added: “We never really did get on that well. We’re two very, very different characters.
“But we made bloody good telly together for 20 years.”
9
Despite unfollowing Torode and his wife Lisa on social media, Wallace defended him in an interview with The Sun, insisting he is not a racistCredit: PA
9
Gregg Wallace broke down while discussing the MasterChef scandal in an exclusive interviewCredit: Dan Charity
Allegations against MasterChef presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode were upheld, and they both lost their jobs on the BBC programme, which has aired in various guises since 2005
06:27, 24 Jul 2025Updated 06:39, 24 Jul 2025
John Torode and Gregg Wallace had presented MasterChef for 20 years (Image: BBC/Shine TV)
The BBC has stressed it wants to “properly recognise” the MasterChef contestants by airing a series filmed last year before allegations against Gregg Wallace and John Torode were upheld.
But they filmed a series last year before these claims were upheld, and the BBC has decided to air this to honour the amateur chefs involved. However, the futures of the celebrity series and the Christmas special, again both already filmed, remain unclear as yet.
Reacting to the news on Wednesday, one former MasterChef worker said the decision to go ahead showed “a blatant disregard for the people who have come forward”.
Speaking to BBC News, she warned it was “a total reversal of so-called firing from MasterChef – how can you be fired by your work is still made public? While a gap in the prime time schedule is not ideal, for integrity they should have found other series to go into those slots.”
Gregg and John, pictured last year, will feature in the series of MasterChef due to air next month(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
However, the BBC said in full: “After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August. MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey.
“This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC.
“However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.
“At this stage we have not taken a decision on the celebrity series and Christmas special, which was filmed earlier this year, and we will confirm our plans later in the year.
“Most importantly MasterChef is a brilliant, much-loved programme which is bigger than any one individual. There are many talented, dedicated and hard-working people who make the show what it is. It will continue to flourish on the BBC and we look forward to it returning stronger than ever in the future.”
The statement followed news last week that Torode’s contract on MasterChef would not be renewed, as confirmed by the BBC and production company Banijay UK.
Torode, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday, confirmed he was the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of his co-presenter Wallace.
The future of BBC’s MasterChef has been revealed after both hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode have been axed from the popular show
18:42, 17 Jul 2025Updated 18:42, 17 Jul 2025
MasterChef’s future revealed after Gregg Wallace and John Torode’s double sacking (Image: BBC/Shine TV)
The future of BBC’s MasterChef has been ‘revealed’ as – John Torode and Gregg Wallace‘s final series will reportedly still air – despite their double axing.
Last December, it was reported that Grace Dent would be joining John Torode in the kitchen for the next series of Celebrtity MasterChef after Gregg Wallace stepped back from the show following allegations against him. John and Gregg had also filmed an amateur series – as BBC and Banijay UK intend to still broadcast both.
Gregg Wallace’s position on MasterChef became “untenable” after 45 out of 83 allegations of inappropriate behaviour were upheld following a seven-month investigation. John was also axed from the show earlier this week after he confirmed he was the person alleged to have used racist language. However, he said he had no memory of making the comment and denies it ever happened.
John and Gregg’s final series of the BBC show will reportedly still air – as well as the Celebrity version(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
The series, which has already been filmed and features celebrities including Love Island‘s Uma Jammeh and TV personality Ashley Cain, will reportedly still be shown on the broadcaster “once the dust has settled”.
The report comes after BBC Director-General Tim Davie announced that the impact on the show’s participants – would be a factor in whether the shows come to air or not.
“These past eight months have been truly hellish for all concerned,” a source told The Sun. “The BBC and Banijay have faced a moral and professional dilemma like never before. Obviously Gregg’s case was more clear cut, but John being dragged through the mud wasn’t what anyone wanted or expected to happen.
“But at the same time, and as a publicly funded body, the BBC has a duty to both provide entertainment as well as fulfil its obligations to cast, crew, contestants and viewers alike.”
John and Grace’s Celebrity MasterChef series will reportedly still air(Image: PA)
The source then went on to say that hundreds of people who were involved in or worked on the shows would be “so bitterly disappointed” if they cancelled the show. They then claimed that the show will air “once the dust has settled and all the fuss died down.”
The BBC has been contacted by The Mirror for comment.
In a lengthy statement following John’s axe, the BBC said: “John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. This allegation, which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace, was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm, Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation.
“He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.
“The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”
The BBC and Banijay UK are reportedly still planning to air the final MasterChef series featuring axed Gregg Wallace and John Torode despite findings – and when the ‘dust settles’
Gregg Wallace and John Torode fronted MasterChef for years(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
Gregg Wallace and John Torode’s final series of MasterChef will reportedly still be aired. It has been revealed that the BBC and Banijay UK are keen to air the final two series featuring the presenters “when the dust settles”.
Gregg Wallace’s position on MasterChef became “untenable” after 45 out of 83 allegations of inappropriate behaviour were upheld following a seven-month investigation. John Torode was also axed after he confirmed he was the person alleged to have used racist language. However, John said he had no memory of making the comment and denies it ever happened.
Now sources have revealed that the BBC and Banijay are currently planning to air the already-filmed two series of MasterChef including a celebrity version. Gregg and John both appear in one and Grace Dent stepped in for Gregg in the other.
“These past eight months have been truly hellish for all concerned. The BBC and Banijay have faced a moral and professional dilemma like never before. Obviously Gregg’s case was more clear cut, but John being dragged through the mud wasn’t what anyone wanted or expected to happen,” a source said.
John Torode and Gregg Wallace have left MasterChef but their final series could air(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
“But at the same time, and as a publicly funded body, the BBC has a duty to both provide entertainment as well as fulfil its obligations to cast, crew, contestants and viewers alike. If they were to can these two series, hundreds of people — those who appeared or worked on the shows — would be so bitterly disappointed.”
The insider added to The Sun : “So the feeling at present is that the show, quite literally, must go on — albeit once the dust has settled and all the fuss died down. The two presenters have already been cancelled on the Beeb — they don’t wish to cancel the series too; neither of which, it must be noted, received any complaints.” The BBC has been contacted by The Mirror for comment.
In a lengthy statement, the BBC said they had no plans to work with Wallace again. They wrote: “We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour. We want to reaffirm, there is no place for the abuse of power, unacceptable behaviour or language at the BBC, or shows made for the BBC.
“No decision has yet been made over the completed series of MasterChef, which was not broadcast earlier this year while the investigation was conducted. At this stage we are not going to make a final decision on the broadcast of the series that was filmed last year. We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part. At the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants.”
John Torode, who has presented BBC’s MasterChef with Gregg Wallace since it was revived as MasterChef Goes Large in 2005, said he had “no recollection of the incident”
00:43, 15 Jul 2025Updated 00:50, 15 Jul 2025
John Torode has confirmed he was the person alleged to have used racist language(Image: BBC)
John Torode says he is “shocked and saddened” by the allegation he used racist language working on MasterChef.
The presenter, who has hosted the BBC show with Gregg Wallace since it was revived as MasterChef Goes Large in 2005, insists he has “absolutely no recollection” of the incident, which was upheld as part of a review into the behaviour of Wallace.
Now, it has emerged two standalone allegations were made against other people, one of which was the use of racist language made by 59-year-old Torode. Speaking last night in the wake of the fresh developments, another blow to the MasterChef brand, Torode said: “Following publication of the Executive Summary of the investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.
“For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.
“I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”
Gregg Wallace and John Torode have fronted MasterChef for nearly 20 years(Image: BBC/Shine TV)
The chef, who has also been a regular on This Morning, posted his piece on Instagram following Wallace’s statement, in which he said he was “deeply sorry for any distress caused”. The entrepreneur, originally from Peckham, southeast London, added he “never set out to harm or humiliate” in the wake of the report, which said one allegation of “unwelcome physical contact” was upheld. In all, 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, the report by MasterChef production company Banijay UK and led by law firm Lewis Silkin found.
As soon as the investigation into the historical allegations of misconduct was opened last year, Wallace stepped down from his role on the BBC programme. Yet, in a statement last week, the father of three made a reference to “trial by media” – despite dozens of allegations being upheld.
“For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. None of the serious allegations against me were upheld. I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended,” Wallace, who has also been on Saturday Kitchen, said.
The report found that the “majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94%) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018”, with only one allegation substantiated after 2018. MasterChef returned to our screens in 2005 – after a four-year break – under the guise of MasterChef Goes Large and has since been branded as MasterChef. Two Christmas specials scheduled to air in the festive period last year were pulled by the BBC amid the investigation.
Food critic Grace Dent, 51, is said to be replacing Gregg Wallace, 60, on MasterChef UK after the TV host was sacked from the BBC show by its production company Banijay
21:56, 12 Jul 2025Updated 21:58, 12 Jul 2025
Gregg Wallace has been sacked from MasterChef(Image: BBC)
A source has claimed the food critic, 51, will appear on the show alongside John Torode, 59, with filming set to begin at the end of summer. The claims emerged days after Gregg, 60, shared a statement warning he would “not go quietly” after he was sacked from the BBC show by its production company Banijay as 50 more people came forward to make allegations of misconduct, which he strongly denies.
According to the insider, Grace, who replaced Gregg on Celebrity MasterChef earlier this year, is “a natural fit” for the show. The source added that Grace “loves to support up-and-coming talent in the industry and loves the format of the show.”
Grace Dent and John Torode on Celebrity MasterChef (Image: PA)
They told The Sun: “Filming is expected to start at the end of the summer through December. They are also filming at new studios in Birmingham, so it will be a fresh start all round.” When it was confirmed in December last year that Grace, who starred on I’m a Celebrity in 2023 but left on medical grounds after nine days, was stepping in for Celebrity MasterChef, she said: “I’ve been watching MasterChef since I was a girl sitting with my dad on the sofa.
“My whole family watches it. It’s all about uncovering and championing talent, and to have ended up in this position is more than a dream to me. I’m so excited that I can’t eat, which is severely detrimental to a restaurant critic.
“I feel very lucky to be stepping in for the next Celebrity MasterChef. I can’t wait to meet the fresh celebrity faces for 2025.” Jon added of her colleague: “I have loved working with Grace on MasterChef over the years. She has been an excellent guest, an inspiring critic and also set some incredible challenges.”
Grace returning to the UK after leaving I’m a Celebrity in November 2023(Image: PA)
The news emerged just days after Gregg issued a furious statement on social media, claiming that the Silkin’s Report into his alleged misconduct “exonerates him of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year.” In a lengthy post shared on social media, he wrote: “I’ve 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.”
He added: “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.
Grace with John and Gregg on MasterChef(Image: BBC)
“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.”
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.”
The Mirror has reached out to MasterChef and Grace Dent’s representatives for comment.
Associate Editor Tom Bryant reflects on meeting Masterchef star Gregg Wallace who opened up about his fears over losing his job during an extraordinary interview in late 2023
22:31, 11 Jul 2025Updated 22:38, 11 Jul 2025
The Mirror’s Tom Bryant opens up about meeting Gregg Wallace(Image: Tim Merry/Daily Mirror)
After I spent a morning in Gregg Wallace’s company, I felt like I needed a lie down. Meeting him to record an episode of my podcast, he was – at first – everything I had expected him to be: brash, extrovert and very loud.
In fact, he was not unlike his persona on BBC show MasterChef, with his booming voice and cockney cackle of a laugh. But after a few hours with him in late 2023 – and a very revealing interview – I came away with a very different perspective of the former Peckham greengrocer. Namely: how has this clearly troubled man with a host of demons risen to the top of the TV pile and stayed there for so long?
Under-fire: Gregg Wallace has been axed from Masterchef(Image: Pixel8000)
It’s pertinent now as his career lies in tatters amid a swirl of accusations. This week alone we learned that 50 more people have made claims about him to BBC News.
Most accuse him of inappropriate sexual comments. Eleven women accuse him of inappropriate sexual behaviour, which he denies. If the claims against him are true, you can see in a heartbeat why he was relieved of his job as MasterChef co-host, a role he had since 2005.
When I met him in 2023, I found it hard to comprehend how he coped in the glare of the public eye. The answer was that he didn’t.
During our recording in the basement of a private members’ club in Soho in London’s West End, he talked about how being on TV exacerbated his mental health struggles.
It was a candid chat. But there was a niggling thought at the back of my mind that things wouldn’t end well.
I couldn’t put my finger on it – and I still struggle to – but 20 months later, the situation has well and truly imploded. He had revealed how the more famous he got, the worse his anxiety grew. He told me: “I used to not be able to go on holiday without getting anxiety attacks.”
At one point, Gregg looked me in the eye as he said how he lived in constant fear his career could end at any moment.
He said: “Why was I always scared of losing my job? Why was I always scared of losing my house? Why was I always scared of being poor?”
Being on telly made his anxiety levels soar. “TV is terrible for someone with anxiety,” he said. “I’ve had the same PA for 12 years. She went, ‘My word, you picked the wrong profession.’”
His stint on Strictly was a disaster. BBC bosses were so worried they got a therapist for him mid-series.
He said: “I was having a tough time. I was really stressed – so badly that the side of my face broke out into a rash, like cold sores.”
Gregg Wallace: worried about losing his job(Image: PA)
He told me his fourth wife Anna pleaded with him for them to quit the UK and live in Italy, asking him: “Is this worth it?”
A lot of his issues stemmed from a childhood blighted by abuse. Aged eight, he was sexually assaulted by a babysitter’s husband. Gregg told me: “I didn’t tell anybody at the time. I did tell my mum when I was older but she didn’t seem to want to know.”
He said of the abuse: “It was quite a horrendous situation for a young boy.”
Clearly, none of this could excuse some of the appalling behaviour heis now accused of.
There are some who may question why Gregg was on TV in the first place given his fragility. But mental health problems should not preclude you from your passion.
And I’m told that producers recognised he needed help and assigned him a full-time welfare specialist over the past six months.
This week he claimed to have received a formal autism diagnosis. Gregg, 60, said on Tuesday: “My neuro-diversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected 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 20 years.”
Autism charities have reacted with fury to these comments, with one saying the condition is “not a free pass for bad behaviour”. Emily Banks, founder of neurodiversity training body Enna, said: “Being autistic is never an excuse for misconduct.
“It doesn’t absolve anyone of responsibility and it doesn’t mean you can’t tell right from wrong.”
But as one executive on a rival channel told me: “This isn’t about whether Gregg has autism.
“This is about what MasterChef knew about the wronged women over the years, and whether they just turned a blind eye.”
We now have to wait and see if the long-awaited MasterChef review into the saga provides the answers when it comes back on Monday.
The BBC has told Greg Wallace that they don’t believe he’ll change his behaviour in a scathing letter from compliance boss Claire Powell that has been shared with The Mirror
22:04, 10 Jul 2025Updated 22:49, 10 Jul 2025
Gregg Wallace has been accused of misconduct claims that he denies(Image: BBC/Glenn Dearing)
Gregg Wallace struggles to grasp the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, BBC bosses claim. And in a letter sacking him from his MasterChef job, the corporation insisted he is unlikely to change amid accusations that include groping, flashing and making sexual comments that go back years.
While the 60-year-old has admitted using inappropriate language at times, he denies the more serious allegations and has now hired an “aggressive” lawyer who may challenge his axing. In the letter from the BBC to Wallace, extracts of which have been seen by the Mirror, compliance boss Claire Powell refers to the findings of a law firm’s probe into his behaviour – which are yet to be released.
Gregg Wallace has been fired from MasterChef(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
She said: “I do not have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour for you to make what you perceive to be jokes in the work -environment, without understanding the boundaries of what is appropriate.
“You acknowledge some of your comments have offended or upset people. But it is clear that you struggle to distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate -behaviour in the workplace, as well as lacking an awareness of why your behaviour impacts others.
“I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change.”
A source close to Wallace said the TV chef claims the letter is unfair. But show producers Banijay are understood to be in no doubt about the next steps that need to be taken after the report by law firm Lewis Silkin.
The insider said the letter refers to Wallace’s autism and appears to accept his condition. The source said: “He’s been formally diagnosed with autism, a recognised disability, but the BBC seems to be saying it can’t cope with a disabled person. It sounds a lot like discrimination to us.”
Wallace is now understood to have hired Dan Morrison, one of the UK’s top litigation lawyers who has worked with Nigel Farage and footballer John Terry.
His firm’s profile page states: “Dan has recovered billions of pounds for his clients over 25 years of legal practice. He is known for his aggressive approach to litigation and his ability to negotiate favourable settlements for his clients.”
Wallace is expected to try to sue the BBC, although it is not yet clear if this will be for unfair dismissal, or something else.
He was warned by the BBC after a complaint was raised about him in 2018 on the show Impossible Celebrities. He apologised and was offered counselling.
Wallace was told in a meeting to change his behaviour and had coaching the following year. There were also complaints about him that same year on MasterChef. He was given a dressing down by Kate Phillips, who was then controller of entertainment and is now the BBC’s chief content officer.
She reportedly told Wallace his behaviour had been -“unacceptable and cannot continue”. BBC News has claimed that 50 more people have made claims about him.
Banijay last night declined to comment. The BBC also said it would not comment beyond the statement issued on Tuesday, which stated: “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.”
Wallace insisted earlier this week: “I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.”
Former MasterChef star Gregg Wallace isn’t expected to return to the BBC show following his departure but it’s now been teased that he could sign up for a project on ITV
18:59, 10 Jul 2025Updated 19:04, 10 Jul 2025
It’s been teased that Gregg Wallace could sign up for a reality TV show with a rival channel to the BBC(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has “quietly” parted ways with his former agent, Dylan Hearn. He’s now represented by John Miles, who is known for taking on clients who find themselves in tricky situations.
Sources said that Bristol-based Miles, who also represents Graziano di Prima, Martin Bashir, Noel Edmonds and Nick Knowles – among others – is said to have looked after the MasterChef star’s interests “for some months”. One source said: “Gregg was quietly dumped by his former agent and has since been signed up by John, who knows what he’s doing when it comes to fallouts with the BBC, in particular.”
It’s been suggested that Gregg Wallace could take part in I’m A Celebrity(Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
They added: “He’s looked after many people who’ve found themselves battling in pretty intense situations. Don’t be surprised if Gregg suddenly turns up on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here. He’s got a lot of beans to spill.”
A potential stint on I’m A Celebrity would see Gregg, 60, follow in the footsteps of restaurant critic Grace Dent, who competed on the show in 2023. Grace withdrew from the ITV reality TV show after just over a week in camp.
More recently, Grace was last year named as Gregg’s replacement on Celebrity MasterChef following his exit. She will appear alongside returning host John Torode, who had fronted the culinary show with Gregg since 2006.
It was announced last year that Gregg would step away from the BBC‘s MasterChef whilst its production company Banijay UK reviewed historical misconduct complaints, said to be from across a range of shows. As reported at the time, he said through a lawyer: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that Gregg had been fired from MasterChef after a year-long investigation into the allegations. He issued a lengthy statement on Tuesday in which he claimed that he has been exonerated of “all the serious allegations which made headlines last year” but apologised after saying that he was found “primarily guilty of inappropriate language”.
Gregg said that he has been cleared by the Silkin report of the “most serious and sensational accusations” made against him and accused the BBC of “peddling sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories”. He apologised for the inappropriate language which the report found him “primarily guilty” of between 2005 and 2018 though.
A stint in the jungle would see him follow in the footsteps of Grace Dent, who was a campmate a year before being named Gregg’s replacement on Celebrity MasterChef(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Fortnum & Mason)
He also said in the statement: “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.”
A BBC spokesperson told the Mirror at the time: “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.”
It’s understood that Banijay will be releasing the report and that the BBC did not fire Gregg as the corporation does not employ him. He was instead reportedly employed by Banijay.
Amid the news of his departure from MasterChef, it was reported that Gregg is facing fresh misconduct claims from 50 people. The presenter is said to have denied all allegations.
The Mirror can reveal that BBC bosses are convinced that Gregg Wallace’s filmed MasterChef episodes will still air despite the presenter’s recent sacking from the show
21:04, 09 Jul 2025Updated 22:23, 09 Jul 2025
Gregg Wallace may make a shock return to MasterChef
Gregg Wallace may have been sacked from MasterChef but bosses at the BBC and production company Banijay are convinced the series he’d already filmed before the scandal could yet be saved. One option is that the cookery competition, which cost an estimated £8million to make and was intended to run for 24 hour-long episodes across eight weeks on primetime BBC1, could be shown on iPlayer only.
The decision over its future on BBC1 will fall to director general Tim Davie, who must choose whether to show it on BBC1 or iPlayer or shelve it if it was deemed inappropriate. The BBC said that decision would only be made once the report from law firm Lewis Silkin is made public later this week.
Gregg Wallace has been fired from MasterChef(Image: BBC /Shine TV)
One insider said: “Once the report comes out, we will all know what the legal review has found. Gregg has claimed that many of the more serious allegations against him have not been upheld, and has apologised for the rude and inappropriate language he used, causing complaints that were upheld. The feeling is the series is not dead yet – there are high hopes that it could yet see the light of day.”
The 24-part pre-recorded series was put on ice earlier this year after 13 women came forward to complain about presenter Wallace, 60. Since then, BBC News has claimed that 50 more allegations about him have been made by women, ranging from inappropriate language to groping and sexual intimidation, which he vehemently denies.
Sources close to the show – recorded last year – have said it would be “impossible” to cut him out entirely. As a judge alongside John Torode, Wallace is integral to the format and editing the series to limit his time on screen has also been ruled out.
It comes amid rumours that the winner of the series is considering legal action over their triumph not making it to the screen. One insider said: “For that person, the series not being shown has massive ramifications. They may well have wanted to launch a cookery career off the back of it and now feel that this controversy is preventing that opportunity – through no fault of their own.”
Gregg Wallace’s filmed series of MasterChef could still air(Image: BBC)
For the contestants, and especially for those who reach the final and the winner, taking part in MasterChef is huge. The show has been life-changing for a great many people who have gone on to pursue careers in cooking.
“These 24 episodes are finished and have been delivered to the BBC. To not show them would be a huge waste of licence fee payers’ money,” one insider said.
“One option is to limit the amateur series with Gregg as presenter to just an iPlayer showing. But it deserves more than that because the brand is huge for the BBC and so many viewers love watching it on BBC1.”
Last year the show celebrated its 20th anniversary with an event attended by 72 former contestants, including many champions whose professional lives changed course as a direct result of taking part. The show also has a dedicated production team who put in many hours of work in order to make the 21st series.
The BBC1 series – which cost an estimated £8million to make – should have been shown earlier this year but was put on ice while the review continued.
Wallace’s co-host John Torode is expected to continue on the show, flanked by a new presenter likely to be Grace Gent, who stepped in for Wallace on the celebrity version earlier this year, filmed in the new Birmingham studio and expected to start next month.
Another contender is Saturday Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt, who was drafted in for MasterChef: The Professionals alongside judges Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti. Filming on that series is just finishing and it is likely to air towards the end of the year in is usual slot.
The BBC said no decision has yet been made on whether the amateur show will air, or on who will be the next presenter of the main series.
The regular version of MasterChef normally goes out in the spring and this year has been replaced by a range of programming including The Repair Shop on the Road and repeats of Who Do You Think You Are?
Whatever the decision over the 21st MasterChef series, featuring Gregg Wallace, casting is already underway for the 22nd series, with applications now open via the show’s Instagram account.
Those who support Wallace says he is being made a scapegoat by those who are trying to protect the hugely important MasterChef brand, claiming he is guilty only of having a “terrible sense of humour” and telling rude jokes at inappropriate moments. But the many claims against him, some going back more than 14 years, include flashing, groping and inappropriate sexual comments.
The official report is expected to be published today (THURS) or tomorrow, with Wallace claiming it will only be a short executive summary rather than the full findings.
He has questioned why “others” on the programme have not also had complaints against them investigated, saying in his post on social media earlier this week: “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?”
He has also hired a lawyer and vowed to fight his sacking, vowing: “I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience. The full story of this incredible injustice must be told and it is very much a matter of public interest.”
The Post Office Horizon IT scandal dominates many of Wednesday’s front pages, with the first report from the official inquiry finding it had a “disastrous” impact on those wrongly accused and prosecuted for criminal offences. Sir Wyn Williams’ report found at least 59 people had contemplated suicide at various points, of whom 10 attempted to take their own lives, and more than 13 people may have killed themselves over the scandal.
The Daily Mail leads on the reaction to Sir Wyn’s report as campaigners say the Post Office has “blood on its hands”. Catherine, Princess of Wales, also graces the front page as she attends the state banquet for French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at Windsor Castle.
The Post Office scandal is also splashed across the Daily Express, highlighting the impact it had on the lives of those caught up in it. And while Catherine is featured too, the paper is pointing out her “new look hairstyle” ahead of the state banquet. A tribute to the late Norman Tebbit, who served as a cabinet minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government, is also featured at the bottom of the page.
The Horizon scandal is covered on the front page of the Times, but it is the vote for strike action from resident doctors in England that is leading the paper. The government made clear a pay rise was off the table after the British Medical Association said 55% of its 48,000 resident doctor members had voted in the ballot with 90% supporting industrial action. The doctors were awarded a 5.4% pay rise for this financial year, following a 22% increase over the previous two years. The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured together for the state banquet for Macron, who earlier warned that Britain and France were dangerously dependent on the US.
The Metro also leads on the first volume of Sir Wyn’s report on the Horizon scandal, which found victims had divorced, suffered serious mental health issues and alcohol addiction as a result of their ordeals. The Post Office apologised “unreservedly” and said it would carefully consider the findings.
Macron’s state visit to the UK and a proposed deal on the small boats crisis lead the Daily Telegraph. The paper reports that the French president is demanding Sir Keir Starmer make Britain less appealing to Channel migrants to secure a “one in, one out” agreement. Gregg Wallace’s sacking from MasterChef is also covered on the front page. The presenter was fired as a result of an inquiry into alleged misconduct, BBC News understands. It comes as 50 more people have approached the BBC with fresh claims about the TV presenter. Wallace denies the claims.
The Sun has splashed Wallace’s sacking on the front page, with the presenter accusing BBC News of “uncorroborated tittle tattle” in its reporting. The inquiry into allegations against him, conducted by an independent law firm on behalf of MasterChef’s production company Banijay, is expected to report back imminently. In a lengthy statement on Instagram on Tuesday, Wallace said he had been cleared by that report of “the most serious and sensational allegations” made against him. BBC News has not seen the Banijay report.
Wallace insists he won’t be “cancelled” after his sacking, the Daily Star reports on its front page. For 20 years, Wallace was one of the most high-profile presenters on British television and the face of the BBC One cooking show. But he stepped aside from the show in November after the BBC’s initial investigation at the end of last year, when 13 people accused him of making inappropriate sexual comments.
The Guardian is leading its front page with plans to be published on Wednesday designed to save the criminal justice system from total collapse. The paper reports that thousands of cases that would normally be heard in front of a jury should be decided by judges alone, according to recommendations made by a former senior judge. Sir Brian Leveson was asked by the Lord Chancellor to come up with a series of proposals to reduce the backlog of cases in the criminal courts. There are almost 77,000 cases waiting for trial in the Crown Court in England and Wales – meaning some defendants and victims are waiting years for justice.
The Financial Times is leading with a debt warning from the independent budget watchdog, which says the UK faces “daunting” risks to the public finances. The OBR says the country’s soaring debt load has led to “substantial erosion” of its capacity to respond to future shocks.
The OBR’s report also leads the front page of the i Paper. The UK state pension triple lock must go, says the watchdog, arguing it has made public finances “unsustainable”. The triple lock guarantees that the state pension rises each year in line with either inflation, wage increases or 2.5% – whichever is the highest. It meant the state pension rose by 4.1% in April 2025.
MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace was reportedly rushed to hospital for a suspected heart attack, just days before the TV presenter faced fresh misconduct accusations from 50 people
23:09, 08 Jul 2025Updated 23:18, 08 Jul 2025
A close friend of Gregg Wallace has said that he’s ‘in a bad way’ after being accused of misconduct by 50 more people(Image: BBC)
Shamed MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has been sacked after 50 more people complained about him – but he has vowed to fight back. The 60-year-old accused BBC News of “peddling gossip” after it claimed to have received dozens of new complaints about him, ranging from sexual comments to groping. Wallace accepts his humour was “inappropriate” on the show. And a source close to him admits a social media video in which he lashed out at “middle-class women of a certain age” was a sackable offence.
But he still believes himself to be a victim and called the new claims “baseless and sensationalised”. He insisted: “I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.”
Gregg Wallace has been accused of misconduct by 50 more people(Image: BBC /Shine TV)
It comes just days after the TV presenter was reportedly rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack. The 60-year-old was treated at a hospital in Ashford, Kent, after two days of agonising chest pain. A friend told The Sun: “The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It’s been hell.” It is reported that two days after leaving hospital, Wallace was told that his contract would be terminated.
MasterChef production company Banijay is expected to release the findings of a six-month review into his behaviour tomorrow or on Friday. The review, by law firm Lewis Silkin, was ordered after allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour on the set of the BBC cooking show were made against Wallace last year. His lawyers said then: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
A Banijay insider said many of the BBC’s latest allegations are likely to have already been examined during the review. One source who has read the 200-page report said Wallace’s worst mistake was his December 2024 video about the initial allegations, in which he said: “The complaints [are] from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.” The source added that alone was a “dismissible offence”.
Yesterday, the presenter posted a five-page statement on social media. Wallace said: “I recognise my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise.
Gregg Wallace has been axed from MasterChef(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
“I have now been cleared by the Silkin report of the most serious and sensational accusations. 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.”
The presenter said he had taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkin report because: “I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged.”
Wallace claimed the new BBC News allegations included “legally unsafe accusations” which had been “found not credible by Silkin”.
He said allowing the stories to run ahead of the report was an attempt to derail the process. And in response to claims that the BBC had “fired” him, a spokesman said that this was impossible, because it was not his employer. Wallace, whose young son Sid has autism, argued that he should have been better looked after.
He added: “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 MasterChef.
“Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years. That failure is now being quietly buried.”
He added: “I was tried by media and hung out to dry before the facts were established. The full story of this incredible injustice must be told.”
A source close to Wallace insisted he had been made the fall guy. They added: “This is about protecting a format, one of the most valuable formats that Banijay and the BBC has. And what they should be doing is having a clean start and not just chucking one bloke under the bus. Gregg has employed a lawyer and he’s going for blood. The report talks about him being odd – the guy has got autism and it was never addressed. It’s been a trial by social media and a big pile-on.
“All these things, when they’re looked at by a lawyer, are not true. Bullying Penny Lancaster? Not true. Vanessa Feltz? No evidence. It’s about him having a terrible sense of humour and telling rude jokes.”
The pal said that dad-of-three Wallace was “in a bad way”, warning: “This guy is fragile. When everything has been taken away like this, it’s quite overwhelming.”
One MasterChef insider said that no conversation over Wallace’s future employment had yet taken place. The latest allegations include two women who said Wallace exposed himself to them, a student who says he put his hand up her skirt in 2013 and another woman who claims he groped her the previous year.
It is not clear how many of the 50 allegations have been examined by the review lawyers, who looked only at allegations relating to MasterChef. The BBC said: “We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings published.”
Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace announced over the weekend that he is now offering one-to-one coaching for fans who want to get ‘fitter’ and ‘stronger’
Former MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace is offering one-to-one coaching after he “transformed” himself by embracing a new healthy lifestyle. He promoted the venture, which he said is priced at £200 a month, just days before the news of his exit from the show.
It was announced last year that Gregg, 60, would be stepping away from the BBC show whilst its production company Banijay UK reviewed historical misconduct complaints, which were said to be from across a range of shows. As reported at the time, he said through a lawyer: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
Then, earlier today, it was reported that Gregg had been fired from MasterChef after a year-long investigation into the allegations, with 50 people making new claims. He issued a lengthy statement this afternoon in which he claimed that he has been exonerated of “all the serious allegations which made headlines last year” but apologised after saying that he was found “primarily guilty of inappropriate language”.
Just days before the latest developments, Gregg took to Instagram over the weekend to share with his followers that he is offering coaching for people who want to “get fitter and stronger”. He wrote over a video message on Sunday: “One to One Coaching £200 a month.”
Gregg Wallace announced over the weekend that he’s offering one-to-one coaching for £200 a month(Image: greggawallace/instagram)
Gregg, who lost five stone in his fifties, said in the video itself: “Are you feeling well? Are you feeling energised and healthy? Because if you’re like me and you’re over 50, the chances are you have put a huge amount of effort into your job and looking after your family, and very little focus has gone on you and your wellbeing.”
He continued: “And you could be thinking to yourself ‘I wanna feel healthier. I wanna feel fitter. I’d like to get rid of this belly and look better in my clothes.’ I transformed my life. I’m now fitter at 60 than I was at 30 and let me tell you it’s not about eating salads and it’s not about being in the gym all day.”
Gregg, who has promoted his coaching role previously too, concluded: “What you need is a guide. Somebody to show you. Someone who’s done it. I coach people one-to-one. I help them get fitter and stronger as we get older because it’s important we look after ourselves. If you’d like to talk to me about helping you, leave me a message here.”
The former Celebrity MasterChef host shared in the comments section of the post that his coaching is “not just for over 50s”. And when asked by someone how they could sign up, Gregg told them to direct message him on the platform.
Gregg’s post was uploaded just days before it was reported today that he won’t be returning to the BBC. And he issued a statement this afternoon about an investigation that was launched into allegations previously made against him.
He said that he has been cleared by the Silkin report of the “most serious and sensational accusations” made against him and accused the BBC of “peddling sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories”.
However, he apologised for the inappropriate language which the report found him “primarily guilty” of between 2005 and 2018. He went onto say: “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.”
The news came just days ahead of reports that he won’t be returning to MasterChef following an investigation into alleged misconduct(Image: BBC /Shine TV)
A BBC spokesperson told The Mirror: “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.”
The Mirror understands that Banijay will be releasing the report and that the BBC did not fire Gregg as the corporation does not employ him. He was instead employed by Banijay.
MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace has released a lengthy statement on Instagram after being axed by the BBC following a nearly year-long investigation into misconduct claims – and we want to hear your thoughts
18:33, 08 Jul 2025Updated 18:46, 08 Jul 2025
Gregg Wallace has been axed by the BBC(Image: BBC)
Gregg Wallace has been fired by the BBC following an investigation into alleged misconduct – and we want to hear your thoughts. In December, the former MasterChef presenter was accused of making inappropriate sexual comments and jokes over a 13-year period.
It comes as 50 more people have approached the BBC with fresh claims about Wallace, BBC News reports. Wallace has strongly denied all claims. After reportedly being informed of his dismissal from the BBC by production company Banijay, the former greengrocer released a statement saying he has been exonerated of the most serious allegations levelled against him.
The 60-year-old wrote on Instagram: “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.” He also accused the BBC of “peddling sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories.”
Gregg continued: “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.”
Now, Gregg has also claimed that “nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over twenty years”. As part of a lengthy statement, he shared: “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.” In another part of his statement, he insisted he “will not go quietly” and “will not be cancelled for convenience”, adding: “The full story of this incredible injustice must be told and it is very much a matter of public interest.”
The dad-of-three’s legal team have been given an early steer into the Silkins report, which is officially due out on Thursday. A series of complaints were made about the MasterChef last year, including ‘inappropriate behaviour’ and allegations of touching an assistant’s bottom on the BBC show.
Gregg stepped down from the show after denying the allegations, with his lawyers strongly denying Gregg engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. Gregg insisted via his legal team: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
With the Silkins report due to be released this week, we want to know if you think Gregg should have been sacked over the MasterChef scandal? Vote in our poll HEREto have your say.
Gregg Wallace has today been axed from TV following an investigation into misconduct claims as the former MasterChef star hit out at the allegations in a lengthy statement
17:34, 08 Jul 2025Updated 17:37, 08 Jul 2025
Gregg Wallace slammed the BBC in a furious statement(Image: BBC /Shine TV)
He stepped away from his role on the hit BBC cooking contest while an investigation took place. Today, he has been axed following a nearly year-long probe into misconduct claims. Wallace has said he has been exonerated of the most serious allegations levelled against him, after reportedly being informed of his dismissal from the BBC by production company, Banijay.
In a statement on Instagram, he wrote: “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.
Wallace hit out at the decision in a statement(Image: BBC /Shine TV)
“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.”
Wallace went on to accuse the BBC of “peddling sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories”. He added: “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.”
He said: “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.”
Following Wallace’s statement, the BBC issued their own. 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.”
A series of complaints were made about Wallace last year, including ‘inappropriate behaviour’ and allegations of touching an assistant’s bottom on the BBC show.
Wallace stepped down from MasterChef after denying the allegations, with his lawyers strongly denying he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. He insisted via his legal team: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
