The BBC has officially terminated its relationship with Gregg Wallace, the long-time MasterChef presenter, citing behavioral issues that pose a risk to workplace safety. In a formal letter of dismissal, Claire Powell, head of compliance for BBC content, stated the organization lacked confidence in Wallace’s ability to change what appears to be learned behavior.
The contents of the dismissal letter, which were initially reported by The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mirror, have been independently confirmed by sources close to Wallace. The letter was sent in anticipation of an upcoming independent review into Wallace’s conduct during his 20-year tenure on MasterChef, commissioned by Banijay UK, the show’s producer.
The review, conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, followed accusations that Wallace had made lewd and inappropriate remarks on set. In response, Wallace admitted to using inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018, but rejected more severe allegations, such as unwanted touching, stating that those claims were dismissed during the investigation. An executive summary of the review is expected to be released soon.
Wallace, who is 60 years old, attributes aspects of his behavior to a recent autism diagnosis. He accused his MasterChef colleagues of failing to protect him from what he now considers a “dangerous environment”. Alleging disability discrimination, Wallace has retained Dan Morrison, a partner at Grosvenor Law, and barrister Lawrence Power of Whitestone Chambers to represent him.
In the BBC’s letter, Powell emphasized that the decision to cut ties took into account past warnings, the BBC’s public reputation, and Wallace’s conduct across other shows. Notably, six incidents of concern were identified, some dating as far back as 2005.
Powell’s statement elaborated: “The 2025 findings reflect your acknowledgment that your comments have offended or upset others. However, it is clear that you continue to struggle with workplace boundaries and lack an understanding of the impact of your behavior.”
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She added that productions like MasterChef require a safe, unscripted environment where presenters must exercise consistent and sound judgment—something the BBC no longer believes Wallace can guarantee.
The BBC emphasized its duty of care not only to Wallace but also to contributors, colleagues, and members of the public, especially given the use of license fee payer funding to maintain safe working conditions.
A BBC spokesperson commented:
“Banijay UK instructed Lewis Silkin to investigate the allegations against Gregg Wallace. We will not make further comment until the investigation concludes and findings are made public.”
