Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has insisted he is “not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher” whilst offering an apology to anyone he hurt, in his first interview since being sacked from the BBC show earlier this month.
The 60-year-old presenter spoke to The Sun after an independent investigation upheld 45 allegations against him, including claims of inappropriate sexual language, unwanted physical contact, and being in a state of undress on set.
Wallace also defended his former co-host John Torode, who was axed from the programme after an allegation he used “an extremely offensive racist term” was substantiated, saying: “He is not a racist.”
“I Am So Sorry” Says Wallace
Speaking publicly for the first time since his dismissal, Wallace acknowledged he had made comments that “offended people” and were not “socially acceptable.”
I understand that now – and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry,” he told The Sun, attributing his behaviour to his background as “a former greengrocer from Peckham working in an environment that was jovial and crude.
The television personality strongly denied the most serious allegations against him, stating: “I’m not a groper. People think I’ve been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher. People think I’m a sex pest. I am not.”
Wallace’s contract was terminated after production company Banijay UK commissioned law firm Lewis Silkin to investigate his conduct following a BBC News exposé last year that revealed claims from 13 individuals about inappropriate sexual comments.
Sock Incident “Just a Joke”
Addressing one of the most widely reported allegations – that he walked around the MasterChef set naked with a sock on his penis – Wallace claimed the incident had been mischaracterised.
“I was getting changed to go to a black tie event, a charity event. I put my bow tie on and my shirt. It’s only them outside the door. I put the sock on, opened the door, went, ‘Wahey!’ and shut the door again,” he explained.
The presenter insisted only four friends from the show were present and that “nobody was distressed,” claiming those interviewed were “either amused or bemused.”
Autism Defence Sparks Charity Backlash
Wallace’s attempt to link his behaviour to his recent autism diagnosis has drawn sharp criticism from disability charities and neurodiversity advocates.
The presenter, who had previously posted a now-deleted Instagram statement appearing to blame his conduct on autism, repeated these claims in the interview, saying: “I know I struggle to read people. I know people find me weird. Autism is a disability, a registered disability.”
He also made the unusual claim that he “never wears pants,” explaining: “It’s not sexualised. It’s hypersensitivity – that happens with autism.”
Neurodiversity in Business told BBC News that autism is “not a free pass for bad behaviour,” whilst the National Autistic Society stressed the importance of avoiding generalisations about autistic people.
Torode Sacking Over Racist Language
Wallace’s co-host of nearly 20 years, John Torode, was also dismissed from MasterChef after the Lewis Silkin investigation substantiated an allegation he used racist language in 2018.
Torode has said he has “no recollection” of the incident and does not believe it happened, whilst emphasising that “any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.”
Wallace defended his former colleague, stating: “I’ve known John for 30 years and he is not a racist. And as evidence of that, I’ll show you the incredible diversity of the people that he has championed, MasterChef winners, over the years.”
However, Wallace revealed their relationship had soured, admitting he had unfollowed Torode and his wife Lisa Faulkner on social media: “We never really did get on that well. We’re two very, very different characters.”
Investigation Findings Detail Pattern of Misconduct
The Lewis Silkin report, commissioned by Banijay UK, examined 83 allegations against Wallace spanning from 2005 to 2024, substantiating 45 of them after interviewing 78 witnesses.
The upheld allegations included 16 reports of sexually explicit comments, 12 claims of inappropriate jokes and innuendo, seven allegations of bullying, four complaints of culturally insensitive or racist comments, three claims of being in a state of undress, and one allegation of unwanted touching.
Patrick Holland, chief executive of Banijay UK, called the report “uncomfortable reading” and said Wallace’s return to MasterChef was “untenable” due to the “volume and consistency of substantiated allegations.”
BBC Under Fire for Missed Opportunities
The investigation criticised both the BBC and production companies for their handling of complaints over the years, noting that “opportunities were missed to address this behaviour.”
Reports emerged that BBC chief content officer Kate Phillips had given Wallace a 90-minute warning about his behaviour in 2018, yet he remained on the show for another six years.
The BBC has apologised to “everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour” and confirmed it has no plans to work with him in future.
Future of MasterChef in Doubt
Despite the scandal, the BBC announced this week that a new series of MasterChef recorded before Wallace and Torode were sacked will still be broadcast “after careful consideration and consultation with the contestants.”
The decision has drawn criticism from some of Wallace’s accusers, with one former MasterChef worker who claims he groped her telling BBC News it showed “a blatant disregard for the people who have come forward.
The broadcaster has not yet decided whether to air a completed celebrity series and Christmas special featuring both presenters.
Grace Dent has already been announced as Wallace’s replacement, whilst no successor for Torode has been confirmed.
Culture Secretary Calls for Industry Standards
The scandal has prompted UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to pledge new standards in the creative industries to protect workers from inappropriate behaviour.
Downing Street said it “utterly condemns” any instance of racist language, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson stating racism “has no place at the BBC or anywhere in society.”
The MasterChef crisis represents the latest in a series of misconduct scandals to hit the BBC, following allegations against Strictly Come Dancing professionals and other high-profile presenters.
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Image Credit:
Gregg Wallace – Photo by Matt Brown, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
