Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has reportedly been dismissed by the BBC following fresh allegations of sexual misconduct, with over 50 new claims made against him during an extended investigation.
The decision emerged shortly after Wallace published a defiant Instagram statement in which he claimed to have been cleared of what he described as the “most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.

In a sharply worded post, the 60-year-old broadcaster criticised the BBC for what he called its failure to defend his reputation, stating: “I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.”
According to BBC News, Wallace’s exit follows a comprehensive nine-month inquiry by law firm Lewis Silkin. The probe uncovered allegations that he groped a MasterChef staffer and exposed himself to another worker. Wallace denies the claims.
The investigation was triggered after Wallace announced his departure from MasterChef last year amid growing scrutiny over historic misconduct allegations that had surfaced behind the scenes.
Several allegations included lewd remarks, inappropriate jokes, requests for personal contact details from female staff, and instances of Wallace reportedly undressing in front of colleagues or standing too close to women.
Wallace and his legal team have issued robust denials of the more serious allegations, stating unequivocally that he has “never engaged in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
In his statement, Wallace reiterated his innocence and suggested that the BBC was preparing to air what he termed “legally unsafe” accusations that had already been reviewed and dismissed by investigators.

He further wrote: “I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me… these were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.”
He acknowledged that while some of his language in the past had been inappropriate, it did not justify the character assassination he believes he is now facing.
“To be clear, 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,” he wrote.
Wallace expressed regret for the tone and nature of past remarks, offering a “full and unconditional apology” for language that he admitted may have been offensive.
One of the most serious incidents detailed by BBC News involved a woman, referred to as Alice, who claimed Wallace pulled down his trousers in a dressing room—an act she described as “disgusting and predatory.”
Despite reporting the behaviour, Alice alleged she was dismissed by a senior production figure who told her: “You’re over 16, you’re not being ‘Jimmy Saviled’.”
A source quoted by The Sun suggested Wallace is “furious and devastated” about how events have unfolded, especially after believing he had been cleared of the most severe misconduct claims.
His team, the source claimed, found solace in the fact that the report concluded he had not engaged in the most damaging forms of misconduct, though inappropriate behaviour had been identified.
Wallace’s legal representatives reportedly cited his recent autism diagnosis as a mitigating factor, suggesting it could help explain some of his inappropriate comments or lack of social awareness.
Nevertheless, BBC leadership made it clear that there was no path forward for Wallace at the corporation, marking an end to his decades-long tenure with the network.
The scandal first rocked MasterChef in 2023, with allegations that Wallace groped multiple people, mimicked sex acts on set, and walked around studios wearing little to no clothing.
Complaints were lodged by more than 13 individuals spanning 17 years, with some incidents reportedly involving guests or contributors from other BBC programmes.
Additional claims included inappropriate physical contact with his ghost-writer, as well as high-profile voices like Ulrika Jonsson and Kirsty Wark speaking out against Wallace’s alleged conduct.

Wallace and his lawyers continue to deny the accusations, describing them as “entirely false” and suggesting the claims have been amplified by “middle-class women of a certain age.”
The independent review into the misconduct allegations is being conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, on instruction from MasterChef’s production company, Banijay UK.

The full report is expected to be released imminently and could offer more detailed findings on Wallace’s conduct during his time at the BBC.
A BBC spokesperson declined to offer detailed comment but confirmed: “Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace.”
“We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published,” the spokesperson added.
Editing by M10News Culture Desk | Contact: info@m10news.com
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