Gregg Wallace breaks cover after stepping away from MasterChef role amid BBC probe

Gregg Wallace released a comment after news broke that he was to step back from his role on MasterChef as BBC investigates misconduct claims

Gregg Wallace has broken his silence after it was revealed he is stepping away from his MasterChef duties.

It comes amid an investigation by the BBC into misconduct claims. Wallace, who was the host of the cooking show, has denied allegations of inappropriate sexual comments he is said to have made.

Former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have accused the MasterChef presenter of making inappropriate sexual comments, BBC News reported. Kirsty appeared on the BBC cooking show in 2011 and has claimed that Wallace told “jokes of a sexualised nature" on two occasions during filming.

Speaking to BBC News , Kirsty said Wallace’s alleged remarks were "really, really in the wrong place".

Wallace, 60, is “committed to fully cooperating throughout the process” during the BBC's investigation process, a statement from the show’s production company Banijay UK to the PA news agency said.

The statement read: "This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.

“While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set."

It continued: "Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately."

The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it “seriously” after it was announced Wallace will step away from his role on MasterChef while complaints made to the corporation from individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”

Wallace has been co-presenter of MasterChef with John Torode since 2005. Other shows he has been involved with include Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, while he also featured on Eat Well for Less?, Inside the Factory and Time Commanders.

He has also been the presenter on a number of travel documentaries for Channel 5 and ITV.

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