Gregg Wallace, the former host of MasterChef, has publicly declared that he will not step back quietly following reports of his dismissal from the BBC. This comes after an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour during his lengthy career, which includes accusations of making sexual comments towards staff and guests. Wallace stepped back from the show in November as these allegations surfaced. In a recent statement, he reiterated that he has been cleared of the most serious claims but admitted to using inappropriate language between two thousand and five and two thousand and eighteen.

The investigation, conducted by independent law firm Lewis Silkin, concluded that while Wallace was not guilty of the most serious allegations, he was found primarily guilty of inappropriate language. He faced significant media scrutiny as a result of these findings, with numerous new accusations reportedly emerging against him. One critical issue lies in a video where he dismissed his accusers in derogatory terms, leading to widespread criticism, including a condemnation from a spokesperson for the Prime Minister.

Despite the backlash, Wallace holds firm that he has been misrepresented, stating he was hired as the ‘cheeky greengrocer’ and suggesting that his authenticity has now been stigmatised in an increasingly sanitized media landscape. He indicated that the allegations had taken a toll on his mental health, with claims that he had contemplated suicide during this tumultuous period.

Wallace was replaced by Grace Dent for the latest season of MasterChef and upcoming Christmas episodes of the show have been removed from the BBC’s schedule. The BBC and Banijay UK have not yet commented on the matter as they await the publication of the investigation report, which is expected imminently.