MasterChef\u2019s Gregg Wallace issues apology after \u2018middle class women\u2019 comment amid misconduct allegations<\/p>\n
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Gregg Wallace has apologised for saying allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made by \u201cmiddle-class women of a certain age\u201d, claiming he felt \u201cunder siege\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wallace said in a video posted on Instagram that he was \u201cnot in a good place\u201d and he is \u201cunder a lot of stress\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t in a good headspace when I posted it, I\u2019ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it,\u201d he said, adding that he will \u201ctake some time out\u201d.<\/p>\n
Downing Street condemned Wallace\u2019s remarks about middle class women as \u201cinappropriate and misogynistic\u201d.<\/p>\n
The BBC is resisting calls to pause broadcasts of MasterChef as it investigates allegations by 13 individuals of sexually inappropriate comments made by Wallace, who stepped down from the programme on Thursday. <\/p>\n
The current series of MasterChef: The Professionals, with Wallace as a judge, will continue to be aired as planned. \u201cMasterChef is life-changing for the chefs that take part and the show is about more than one individual,\u201d a BBC spokesman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated,\u201d the broadcaster reiterated.<\/p>\n
Downing Street says Wallace comments on middle class women were \u2018misogynistic\u2019Downing Street has said Gregg Wallace\u2019s response to the accusations being made against him was \u201cinappropriate and misogynistic\u201d.<\/p>\n
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has since held talks with BBC bosses in the wake of the Wallace row, Downing Street said.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister\u2019s official spokesman said: \u201cThe Culture Secretary spoke with the BBC leadership at the end of last week on this matter and wider workplace culture issues to seek assurances that there are robust processes in place to deal with complaints.<\/p>\n
\u201cClearly the comments we have seen from the individual over the weekend were completely inappropriate and misogynistic.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore broadly the BBC is conducting an independent review into workplace culture which must deliver clear and timely recommendations. It\u2019s essential that staff and the wider public have confidence that the BBC takes these issues seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether MasterChef should be pulled off air, the spokesman added the decision was for the BBC and the show\u2019s production company, and reiterated that Downing Street believes it is \u201cright\u201d that a thorough investigation is conducted.<\/p>\n
Alex Croft3 December 2024 03:00<\/p>\n
Gregg Wallace says head \u2018not in a good place\u2019 as he issues new apology for \u2018middle class women\u2019 jibeGregg Wallace says head \u2018not in a good place\u2019 in new apology<\/p>\n
A visibly emotional Gregg Wallace has apologised after posting a video saying complaints about his alleged inappropriate behaviour came from \u201ca handful of middle-class women of a certain age\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a new Instagram message, posted on Monday, the MasterChef presenter said his head was \u201cnot in a good place\u201d and that he is \u201cunder a lot of stress\u201d.<\/p>\n
My colleague Lucy Leeson reports:<\/p>\n
Gregg Wallace issues emotional apology as he confirms time away from public eyeA visibly emotional Gregg Wallace has apologised after posting a video saying complaints about his alleged inappropriate behaviour came from \u201ca handful of middle-class women of a certain age\u201d. In a new Instagram message, posted on Monday (2 December), the MasterChef presenter revealed his head was \u201cnot in a good place\u201d and that he is \u201cunder a lot of stress\u201d. The presenter left the BBC programme on Thursday (28 November) after historic claims were made by 13 people. A BBC spokesperson said \u201cany behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated\u201d.<\/p>\n
Alex Croft3 December 2024 02:02<\/p>\n
Essential that staff and public are confident BBC takes workplace issues seriously, says No 10Downing Street has warned that it is \u201cessential that staff and the wider public have confidence\u201d that the BBC takes issues relating to workplace culture seriously.<\/p>\n
After revealing that culture secretary Lisa Nandy spoke to BBC bosses last week after the Gregg Wallace row began, No 10 said: \u201cMore broadly the BBC is conducting an independent review into workplace culture which must deliver clear and timely recommendations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s essential that staff and the wider public have confidence that the BBC takes these issues seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alex Croft3 December 2024 01:03<\/p>\n
ICYMI: Wallace remarks on middle-class women \u2018inappropriate and misogynistic\u2019, says No 10Downing Street has condemned Gregg Wallace\u2019s remarks characterising those who have complained about his alleged comments as being \u201cmiddle-class women of a certain age\u201d.<\/p>\n
Asked about Wallace\u2019s remarks, Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s official spokesperson was cited as saying by the Telegraph: \u201cOn this, as we said last week these allegations are obviously deeply concerning. It\u2019s right that a thorough investigation is conducted.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously that\u2019s for the BBC and the production company but I would add that the Culture Secretary spoke with the BBC leadership at the end of last week on this matter and wider workplace culture issues to seek assurances that there are robust processes in place to deal with the complaints.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd as you know clearly the comments that we\u2019ve seen from the individual over the weekend were completely inappropriate and misogynistic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alex Croft3 December 2024 00:01<\/p>\n
Who is celebrity chef Gregg Wallace?Gregg Wallace, 60, is best known for co-presenting MasterChef alongside John Torode since 2005, as well as its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.<\/p>\n
He was the original presenter of the BBC show Saturday Kitchen in 2002 and has also featured on Eat Well For Less, Inside The Factory, Turn Back Time, Harvest, and Supermarket Secrets.<\/p>\n
He was made an MBE in the Queen\u2019s Birthday Honours in 2022 for his services to food and charity. Mr Wallace took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014 and was partnered with Aliona Vilani.<\/p>\n
He has two children, Tom and Libby, from a former relationship. He married Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2016 and the couple have a son called Sid.<\/p>\n
Gregg Wallace after being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the Princess Royal in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle (PA Archive)Alex Croft2 December 2024 23:18<\/p>\n
Culture secretary spoke to BBC bosses after Gregg Wallace row erupted, No 10 saysCulture secretary Lisa Nandy held talks with BBC bosses to seek assurances that \u201cthere are rohbust processes in place to deal with complaints\u201d in the wake of the Gregg Wallace row, Downing Street has said.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s official spokesperson said that Ms Nandy \u201cspoke with the BBC leadership at the end of last week on this matter and wider workplace culture issues\u201d.<\/p>\n
Alex Croft2 December 2024 22:33<\/p>\n
BBC source says wrong to suggest broadcaster has not acted on complaintsA BBC source has said it would be wrong to report that the broadcaster has not acted when complaints have been raised.<\/p>\n
The source said: \u201cWhile we are not going to comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, particularly when there is an ongoing process in place being run by Banijay who have the direct contractual relationship with Gregg Wallace, it would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us \u2013 not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to urge caution about pre-judging any of this, particularly the involvement of BBC staff members and any inference they have not acted appropriately.\u201d<\/p>\n
BBC executive Kate Phillips raised concerns in 2017 that Gregg Wallace\u2019s behaviour was \u201cunacceptable and cannot continue\u201d after former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir complained about inappropriate comments during filming, the Sunday Times has reported.<\/p>\n
The newspaper claimed Wallace then received another warning the following year after a complaint was raised about his behaviour on the quiz show Impossible Celebrities.<\/p>\n
Alex Croft2 December 2024 21:50<\/p>\n
Watch: Lorraine Kelly responds to Gregg Wallace MasterChef scandal: \u2018Shut up\u2019Lorraine Kelly responds to Gregg Wallace MasterChef scandal: ‘Shut up’Alex Croft2 December 2024 21:12<\/p>\n
BBC will go ahead with broadcasting filmed MasterChef episodes as plannedAs the BBC faces pressure to pause future broadcasts of MasterChef while the allegations of inappropriate sexual remarks by Gregg Wallace are investigated, the broadcaster insists the series will go ahead.<\/p>\n
The current series of MasterChef: The Professionals, which airs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays with Gregg Wallace as a judge, will continue to be aired as planned.<\/p>\n
A BBC spokesperson said: \u201cMasterChef is life-changing for the chefs that take part and the show is about more than one individual.\u201d<\/p>\n
The broadcaster reiterated that \u201cany behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated\u201d.<\/p>\n
Alex Croft2 December 2024 20:40<\/p>\n
Gregg Wallace\u2019s latest comments criticised by ex Celebrity MasterChef contestantA former Celebrity MasterChef contestant has said Gregg Wallace\u2019s reaction to the accusations being made against him shows he has \u201cno insight or understanding of how he behaves\u201d.<\/p>\n
Addressing Wallace\u2019s response to the accusations, Scottish TV presenter Aggie MacKenzie told Good Morning Britain: \u201cThis illustrates how he just has no insight or understanding of how he behaves. He just doesn\u2019t get it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been allowed to carry on in his own sweet way for many, many years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alex Croft2 December 2024 20:11<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MasterChef\u2019s Gregg Wallace issues apology after \u2018middle class women\u2019 comment amid misconduct allegations Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviewsSign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n