Gregg Wallace Launches Fresh Defence Against MasterChef Misconduct Allegations
Television presenter Gregg Wallace has mounted a vigorous new defence against allegations of misconduct during his tenure on MasterChef, claiming the 45 upheld complaints against him constituted a coordinated 'pile on' rather than evidence of sustained inappropriate behaviour over two decades.
'Not a Legal Process' Claims Wallace
The 61-year-old broadcaster, who was removed from the BBC culinary series last July following the allegations, insists that only two complaints were ever formally raised during his entire 20-year involvement with the programme. He asserts that the remaining 43 emerged exclusively after what he describes as 'sensationalised (and untrue)' initial allegations became public knowledge in late 2024.
In an explosive new Substack post published on Tuesday, Wallace argued that the investigation process was 'not a legal one' and maintained that 'the standard of proof would not stand up in a court of law'. He compared the procedure instead to an internal human resources review rather than a formal judicial process.
Open Invitation for Complaints
Wallace alleged that an 'open invitation' was circulated asking anyone who had 'ever worked with me (or met me) to come forward and tell their stories' after his reputation was already 'being dragged through the mud'. The presenter, who co-hosted the popular cooking show with John Torode for nearly two decades, highlighted that he had interacted with 'tens of thousands of people' throughout his career.
This extensive network included six new contestants every filming day, regularly changing film crews, numerous other programme participants, plus attendees at charity events and industry gatherings. 'Now, imagine that out of all those people, anyone with a grievance, a dislike, or a misremembered moment is encouraged to join in the investigation into you,' he wrote. 'Do you think you would survive without any complaints being made against you?'
Timing and Nature of Complaints
The television personality claimed that 'all but one' of the 45 upheld complaints dated from before 2018, when he says he received a formal warning about his language. The single post-2018 complaint, he stated, involved a question he asked a Celebrity MasterChef contestant about their eating habits, which was characterised as an 'upheld complaint of bullying' raised by someone who overheard the comment rather than the individual concerned.
Wallace maintained that 'the most serious allegations' upheld by the investigation were 'one instance of touching at a party 17 years ago, which I myself confirmed and believed to be consensual, and three instances of being in a state of undress that the investigation itself confirmed to be for legitimate and non-sexually-motivated reasons'.
Comparing Accounts with Media Coverage
The presenter urged his readers to compare this account with headlines about his case, stating: 'I have many, many examples of stories about me that were published in the newspaper and found to be untrue in the investigation.' His latest defence comes just two weeks after a previous Substack post in which he apologised for dismissing his accusers as 'middle-class women of a certain age', calling the comment 'stupid, defensive and arrogant'.
In that earlier communication, Wallace had attempted to justify his inappropriate sexual language and humour by comparing it to innuendos on The Great British Bake Off, claiming he was 'part of a noisy, energetic and sometimes crude ensemble' rather than 'a lone wolf making crude comments in a silent office'.
Investigation Findings and BBC Response
The comprehensive investigation into Wallace's conduct found that 83 allegations were made against him in total, with 45 being formally upheld. The substantiated claims included inappropriate sexual language and humour, culturally insensitive or racist comments, one instance of unwelcome physical contact, and three instances of being in a state of undress.
The BBC apologised at the time of his dismissal to 'everyone who has been impacted' by his behaviour, admitting that 'opportunities were missed to address' his conduct and stating: 'We accept more could and should have been done sooner.' The corporation said Wallace's behaviour 'falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us'.
Career Rebuilding and Co-host Developments
Wallace's attempts to defend himself have been met with widespread criticism from commentators and observers, with many pointing out that even by his own account, dozens of people felt sufficiently uncomfortable with his behaviour to make formal complaints when given the opportunity. Since the scandal broke, the presenter has been attempting to rebuild his career, launching a personal training business on Instagram and routinely sharing recipes on social media platforms.
Meanwhile, his former co-host John Torode stepped down from the show in July 2025 due to an allegation of using 'an extremely offensive racist term' in the workplace in 2018. Torode denied the allegation and said he had 'no recollection' of the incident, claiming he only discovered his dismissal through media reports rather than being formally informed by the BBC or production company Banijay.
