Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has been fired by the BBC following a nine-month investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, despite claiming he was cleared of the most serious accusations against him, according to reports emerging Tuesday.
The 60-year-old television personality broke his silence on Instagram ahead of the official publication of the Silkins report on Thursday, stating he could not “sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others” after 21 years of service to the broadcaster.
Wallace, who stepped down from his MasterChef role in November 2024 while allegations from 13 women were investigated, said the independent investigation had cleared him of “the most serious and sensational accusations,” including allegations of groping. However, sources indicate the BBC has determined there is “no way back” for the presenter despite these findings.
“I have taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins report – a decision I do not take lightly,” Wallace wrote in his Instagram statement. “But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.”
The presenter claimed that “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.” Sources close to Wallace told The Sun that his legal team had been given early access to the report’s findings.
According to insiders, while Wallace was cleared of some high-profile allegations, including those brought by Rod Stewart’s wife Penny Lancaster and former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, he was found to have made inappropriate comments and innuendos during his time on various BBC shows.
Gregg is both furious and devastated about how things have played out,” a source told The Sun. His team have seen the report and believe he is cleared of the most serious wrongdoing allegations, so he has taken great consolation from that.
The investigation was launched after BBC News reported in November 2024 that 13 people had accused Wallace of making inappropriate sexual comments over a 17-year period across multiple shows. The allegations included claims that he told “sexualized jokes,” made comments about his sex life, and behaved inappropriately on set.
Kirsty Wark, who appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, was among those who went public with allegations, stating that Wallace made jokes of a “sexualized nature” on at least two occasions in front of colleagues and contestants. “People were uncomfortable,” she had said.
The controversy deepened when Wallace initially responded to the allegations by dismissing them as coming from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age,” comments that were widely condemned as “completely inappropriate and misogynistic” by a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Sources suggest that Wallace’s recent autism diagnosis has been cited as a mitigating factor for some of his behavior, though this has not excused the inappropriate comments and innuendos that the investigation upheld. “Whilst he is not excusing his inappropriate comments and innuendos – some of which he has been found against – on his recent autism diagnosis, this has been a mitigating factor,” the insider noted.
The BBC’s handling of the situation has come under intense scrutiny, particularly given reports that Wallace had been warned about his behavior as early as 2018. An internal investigation at that time found his conduct to be “unacceptable and unprofessional,” yet he continued to front some of the corporation’s most popular programs.
Production company Banijay UK, which produces MasterChef, launched the external review after complaints were made to the BBC about Wallace’s behavior. The company stated that while the allegations were historical, any incidents where expectations were not met would be “thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.”
Wallace’s departure marks the latest in a series of high-profile misconduct scandals at the BBC. The corporation has faced criticism over its handling of allegations against other presenters, including The One Show’s Jermaine Jenas, who was fired for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to colleagues, and controversies surrounding Strictly Come Dancing professionals.
The situation has raised broader questions about the culture within British television and what some industry insiders have described as “open secrets” regarding inappropriate behavior. Television presenter Aggie MacKenzie, who competed on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, claimed Wallace had been “allowed to carry on in his own sweet way for many, many years.”
A BBC spokesperson previously stated: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.”
The source close to the situation added: “There have been so many people involved in all of this and obviously everyone, bar Gregg who now has nothing to lose, has a vested interest in protecting the money-spinning MasterChef brand.”
Wallace had been a fixture on British television screens for over two decades, co-hosting MasterChef since 2005 and appearing on numerous other programs including Strictly Come Dancing, Eat Well For Less, and Inside the Factory. His departure represents a significant fall from grace for one of the BBC’s most recognizable faces.
The Silkins report is expected to be officially published on Thursday, potentially revealing further details about the investigation’s findings and the specific allegations that were upheld or dismissed.
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Image Credit:
Gregg Wallace at MasterChef Live 2010 – Image by Paul Clarke, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
