What was once one of the most familiar faces on MasterChef has now become the centre of a serious scandal.
Gregg Wallace, who spent nearly two decades as a judge on the beloved BBC cooking show, is officially out following a lengthy investigation that upheld numerous allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Dozens of Complaints Upheld After a Seven-Month Investigation
The internal review, led by law firm Lewis Silkin, took seven months to complete and uncovered 83 complaints from 41 individuals.
Of those, 45 were upheld—including one allegation of unwanted physical contact.
Most of the verified claims dated back to between 2005 and 2018, during Wallace’s years on MasterChef, with just a single allegation confirmed to have happened after 2018.
The nature of the allegations included inappropriate sexual jokes, crude humour, and culturally insensitive remarks.
There were also reports involving Wallace being in a state of undress, and one case of physical contact that was deemed unwanted.
“Unacceptable Behaviour” Leads to Ban from Future Work with BBC
Both the BBC and Banijay UK, the company behind MasterChef, have publicly addressed the findings. Patrick Holland, CEO of Banijay, apologized to those affected and confirmed that Wallace’s return to the show is now “untenable.”
The BBC echoed that stance, stating:
“This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.”
They added that they have no future plans to work with Wallace again and acknowledged that opportunities to intervene earlier were missed.
Wallace’s Diagnosis Adds Nuance But Doesn’t Excuse Past Behaviour
Interestingly, during the course of the investigation, Wallace was diagnosed with autism.
The report noted that this was “highly relevant,” especially when it came to his use of humour as a “masking” technique and his difficulty reading social cues.
While Wallace acknowledged that his diagnosis may offer some explanation for certain behaviours, he was clear that he didn’t want to use it as an excuse or “hide behind it.”
Contestants Felt Powerless to Speak Up
The report also highlighted a troubling culture behind the scenes of the show.
Many contestants reportedly kept quiet out of fear that speaking up could harm their chances in the competition.
Karen Baxter, the investigator leading the inquiry, noted that Wallace did begin to change his behaviour following formal warnings—first from the production team in 2015, and then from the BBC in 2017.
After those warnings, he was found to have taken steps to avoid problematic situations and sought advice from colleagues on how to be more mindful.
More Allegations Beyond Wallace Also Upheld
In addition to the complaints about Wallace, the report also upheld two separate allegations involving other individuals involved with the show.
While their names have not been made public, the BBC confirmed that action is being taken by Banijay to address these as well.
Future of Filmed Series Still Unclear
A MasterChef series filmed last autumn, with Wallace involved, now hangs in limbo.
The BBC hasn’t yet decided whether it will be broadcast.
They acknowledged the disappointment this brings to both fans and contestants, and said any decision will involve consultation with those who took part.
BBC Reiterates Zero Tolerance for Abusive Work Culture
This situation arrives just months after the BBC released an updated workplace culture policy, outlining firm expectations for respectful behaviour across all productions.
The organisation has since reaffirmed that there is no place for abuse of power or inappropriate conduct on any show it produces or broadcasts.
“We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour,” the BBC said in a closing statement.
What’s Next?
For now, Wallace’s long tenure on MasterChef appears to be over, and the BBC seems intent on setting a new standard for accountability in the entertainment industry. Whether the unaired season ever sees the light of day remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the days of brushing complaints under the rug are long gone.