A report into MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has confirmed 45 allegations against him, including one instance of unwanted physical contact and three cases of inappropriate nudity, BBC reports.

A total of 83 complaints were filed against the TV presenter, with most of the confirmed allegations involving lewd sexual language and humor, as well as culturally insensitive or racist remarks.

The investigation, commissioned by production company Banijay—the producer behind MasterChef—was carried out by an independent law firm following a BBC News investigation that first revealed the allegations against Wallace.

Despite this, Wallace claimed ahead of the report’s release that it had cleared him of “the most serious and sensational allegations.” A decision has yet to be made regarding the future of the upcoming season of MasterChef, which was filmed last year with Wallace.

According to the report, the allegations span a period of 19 years, from 2005 to 2024. The document also notes that 10 separate complaints were made against other individuals, two of which were substantiated. Both of these confirmed claims, unrelated to Wallace, involve the use of obscene and racist language.

The report states that Wallace was diagnosed with autism during the course of the investigation, adding: “The findings must be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity.” However, Wallace has said that while the diagnosis may explain some of his behavior, he “does not wish to hide behind it.”

Last week, Wallace faced criticism from autism advocacy groups and others after linking the allegations against him to his diagnosis.

Apologies and Missed Opportunities

Investigators found that between 2005 and 2024, six complaints were submitted to Banijay and another six to the BBC. Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland acknowledged that in the early years, “there were not sufficiently reliable escalation mechanisms in place.”

“We are deeply sorry to all those who were affected by this behavior and who felt unable to come forward or whose complaints were not adequately addressed,” Holland added.

In a statement, the BBC said: “While the full scale of the issues was not known at the time, opportunities to act on this behavior were missed—both by the producers of MasterChef and by the BBC.”

The broadcaster issued an apology “to everyone affected by Mr. Wallace’s behavior” and confirmed it has no plans to work with him in the future.

Criticism from Politicians and Unions

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the allegations against Wallace as “horrifying and disgraceful,” welcoming the BBC’s decision to cut ties with him. She emphasized that the case reveals a broader issue within the creative industries and that much more must be done to ensure the dignity and safety of workers.

Philippa Childs, head of the creative industries union Bectu, said the report shows how “inappropriate behavior was ignored for far too long.” She highlighted how vulnerable freelancers often feel when witnessing abuse by powerful individuals.

BBC News Investigation

In November 2023, a BBC News investigation gathered testimony from 13 people who accused Wallace of making inappropriate sexual remarks. Last week it emerged that the presenter had been removed from the show after dozens more came forward with complaints about inappropriate language, touching, and misconduct.

In total, 50 individuals approached BBC News with allegations against Wallace, including incidents at Banijay productions, nightclubs, awards ceremonies, and other television events. Some of these testimonies were also used in Banijay’s internal investigation.

BBC News maintains editorial independence from the rest of the corporation. | BGNES