You’d think summer would be the perfect time for BBC Director General Tim Davie to kick back a bit.
But instead of enjoying some downtime, he’s been navigating one crisis after another—each more headline-grabbing than the last.
From Huw Edwards’ shocking downfall to Strictly controversies and now the messy fallout surrounding MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace, it’s been anything but quiet at Broadcasting House.
Trouble Keeps Knocking at the BBC’s Door
One insider summed it up: “It’s just been one male star after another dragging the BBC into chaos.” And that chaos has taken a toll on Davie.
Ever since the Huw Edwards scandal—where the former anchor was convicted for child abuse imagery—Davie has reportedly made it a mission to clean up the BBC’s image and crack down on anyone who thinks they’re above reproach.
Gregg Wallace Shown the Door
The latest storm involves Gregg Wallace, who has been let go from MasterChef after an independent report found him at the center of several serious complaints.
The allegations? Sexualised comments, inappropriate jokes, and even groping—claims Wallace strongly denies.
But BBC’s head of compliance, Claire Powell, didn’t mince her words when she officially cut ties.
In her letter, Powell told Wallace that his behavior showed a consistent pattern, and she didn’t believe he could change.
“You’ve acknowledged making comments that upset people, but you still don’t grasp why they were wrong,” she wrote.
That was the final nail in the coffin.
Gregg Fights Back
But Wallace didn’t go quietly. Before the report even dropped, he took to Instagram with a fiery post insisting he had been cleared of the most serious accusations.
“I will not be cancelled for convenience,” he declared.
Some have since suggested that Wallace was thrown under the bus to protect someone else—namely, his long-time co-host John Torode.
The John Torode Question
Torode, seen by many as the future of MasterChef, has stayed mostly quiet throughout.
He and Wallace shared the screen for two decades and even shared a wedding day—Torode was best man at Wallace’s 2016 wedding.
But after Wallace stepped down, sources say the two haven’t spoken, and Torode has distanced himself completely.
Some within the BBC are wondering how much Torode really knew. “He was on set when some of those crude comments were made,” one insider noted. “Why didn’t he say anything?”
BBC’s Ratings Worries and MasterChef’s Future
The concern over MasterChef goes beyond bad press—there’s a lot of money at stake.
The show is one of the BBC’s biggest brands, spinning off everything from cookbooks to branded utensils.
So it’s no surprise producers are scrambling to keep Torode happy while figuring out whether Grace Dent, Wallace’s temporary replacement, can carry the show long term.
Early feedback isn’t promising—some insiders say Dent lacks the charm audiences love.
More Allegations Surface
Just when it looked like the situation was being contained, another bombshell dropped.
BBC News reported that 50 more people had come forward with fresh claims against Wallace.
These included allegations of groping and exposing himself—again, all denied by Wallace.
Crucially, the new complaints stretch beyond MasterChef, touching other BBC shows like Saturday Kitchen.
This has forced internal discussions at the BBC about launching a full-blown, in-house investigation.
Until now, they’ve relied on MasterChef’s producers Banijay to do the legwork.
But with the scandal widening, the BBC can’t afford to sit back anymore.
Allegations of Discrimination and Legal Battles Ahead
Adding to the chaos, Wallace is planning to sue.
He believes his autism diagnosis was used unfairly against him and claims the BBC mishandled his case.
Powell’s dismissal letter does reference his neurodiversity, noting that it affects his understanding of boundaries—but Wallace’s camp says that’s discrimination, plain and simple.
He’s already hired top litigation lawyer Dan Morrison, known for defending Nigel Farage and John Terry, and is reportedly ready to fight tooth and nail.
What Happens to the MasterChef Episodes?
Complicating everything further is a full series of MasterChef filmed with Wallace before the report.
The BBC now has to decide: do they air it, knowing it’ll trigger backlash? Do they scrap it, wasting millions and risking lawsuits from contestants who gave up their time to film?
The fallback idea was to quietly upload the series to BBC iPlayer and let viewers decide—but with the new allegations, even that feels risky.
Gregg Apologises But Stands His Ground
Wallace has publicly apologised for his “inappropriate humour and language” in the past, but insists that the BBC is making him a scapegoat.
Meanwhile, a BBC spokesperson simply stated: “We’re waiting for the full findings of the independent investigation.”
MasterChef Hangs in the Balance
John Torode may be committed to staying on the show—he’s said as much—but the future of MasterChef is shakier than it’s ever been.
With scandal, legal threats, and internal politics all swirling, the BBC’s summer headache shows no signs of easing up.
