BBC Cuts Ties with MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace After Misconduct Report Confirms 45 Allegations

The BBC has officially ended its relationship with MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace after a damning external investigation upheld 45 allegations of misconduct against him.

Last week, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that more than 50 individuals submitted new allegations regarding Wallace’s inappropriate behavior, including groping a colleague and exposing himself to another. These accusations span a 19-year period and involve conduct on set as well as at nightclubs and award ceremonies.

Wallace, 60, had stepped back from the show in November, pending the inquiry. The investigation was conducted by an independent law firm on behalf of Banijay, the company that produces MasterChef.

The final report confirms that a total of 83 allegations were made against Wallace, with 45 upheld. Most relate to sexually inappropriate comments, culturally insensitive language, and racist remarks. While Wallace has denied wrongdoing, the report concluded that his on-set behavior often left colleagues uncomfortable.

The findings note that Wallace’s energetic and humorous personality contributed to the show’s success, but also led to moments where his comments crossed professional boundaries.

Wallace claimed earlier that the investigation cleared him of the “most serious” charges. He later caused further controversy by implying that his actions might be linked to autism, though he also stated, “I do not wish to hide behind it.”

In a statement on Instagram, Wallace said:

“Nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years… I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.”

In response to the report, the BBC stated:

“The behaviour falls below the values of the BBC, and we have no plans to work with Mr. Wallace in the future.”

The broadcaster admitted that it and Banijay had missed opportunities to address complaints earlier and apologized to those impacted. The BBC also confirmed that two other individuals were named in the report, and Banijay is taking immediate action regarding those cases.

Patrick Holland, executive chair of Banijay U.K., commented on the findings:

“The report highlights failures in legacy HR procedures and offers valuable lessons to create a safer work environment for all.”

He added:

“We are deeply sorry to anyone affected by this behaviour and who felt unable to come forward or that their complaints were not properly addressed.”

The incident has sparked widespread scrutiny into the workplace culture of long-running TV productions, raising questions about accountability, reporting mechanisms, and the responsibility of broadcasters.