Gregg Wallace is reportedly preparing to launch legal proceedings against the BBC and the producers of MasterChef, claiming he was discriminated against due to his autism following his departure from the long-running series.
The former greengrocer turned broadcaster, aged 59, has been the subject of a formal investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct during his two-decade tenure on the show.
In recent days, it emerged that 50 additional individuals have approached the BBC with fresh claims concerning Wallace’s behaviour on set.
Last year, Wallace publicly confirmed his decision to step away from MasterChef amid an independent review into historical allegations of misconduct.
Accusations directed at the presenter include making lewd jokes, requesting the phone numbers of female production staff, and instances where he allegedly undressed in their presence or stood uncomfortably close.
While Wallace firmly denies any serious wrongdoing — including any claims of physical misconduct — he has acknowledged that his actions may have been misunderstood and attributes much of the controversy to social difficulties associated with autism, a condition he was only recently diagnosed with.
Sources close to Wallace suggest he believes that his style of humour and communication was misinterpreted in a neurotypical work environment, which failed to accommodate his condition.
“Gregg is guilty of bad jokes and rough humour,” a source told The Telegraph. “But many people on the show long suspected he was autistic, well before he got a formal diagnosis.”
The presenter, a longstanding figure in the BBC’s culinary programming, is reportedly preparing to argue that his dismissal constitutes discrimination under disability rights legislation.
Wallace, who has fronted shows including Inside the Factory and Eat Well for Less, is said to be seeking legal redress for what he views as an unjust termination that failed to consider his neurodivergence.
To date, the BBC has not issued a public statement regarding Wallace’s potential legal action or the yet-to-be-published findings of its internal investigation.
However, the inquiry is expected to outline multiple complaints from production staff describing a pattern of inappropriate workplace behaviour spanning several years.
Following the revelation that 50 more individuals had spoken out, Wallace released a strongly worded statement on social media, in which he criticised the BBC for further damaging his reputation.
Posting to Instagram, he wrote: “After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.”
“I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me,” he continued.
Wallace insisted that the most damaging allegations, including those made by public figures, were found to be without merit after a comprehensive six-month legal review.
He further claimed that his decision to speak out now was prompted by concerns that BBC News planned to air legally questionable claims, including those already dismissed by both the broadcaster and the independent investigation.
“To be clear,” Wallace added, “the Silkin’s Report exonerates me of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds me primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018.”
“I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation,” he stated.
“But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks,” Wallace concluded.
Editing by M10News Entertainment Desk | Contact: info@m10news.com
© 2025 M10News. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited.
