Gregg Wallace latest: Penny Lancaster prepared to go to ‘authorities’ over MasterChef host after bullying claims – UK Times

How Clean is Your House star Aggie MacKenzie says Gregg Wallace “behaved like a sort of Sid James character” when she was on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.

MacKenzie compared Wallace to the characters played by James in the Carry On films while addressing the BBC’s investigation into inappropriate comments he’s alleged to have made over a 17-year period.

“He made stupid, unfunny jokes that people kind of had to tolerate,” Mackenzie told Times Radio, adding: “It’s as if he’s never really grown up or been properly supervised and told to kind of watch what he’s saying.”

She said that Wallace and his former co-host John Torode “behave very differently” when cameras aren’t rolling.

“I observed that when the cameras were off, they would go to separate ends of the room. They didn’t really communicate or have a connection off screen.”

Wallace has stepped down from MasterChef amid allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people who worked with him across a range of shows over a 17-year period.

Among those alleging misconduct is former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, who claimed Mr Wallace told “sexualised” jokes during filming of a Celebrity MasterChef episode in 2011.

“There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn’t as if anyone engaged with this,” she said.

Wallace allegedly also talked openly about his sex life and once told a junior female colleague he wasn’t wearing any underwear under his jeans, according to the BBC News investigation.

The Independent has contacted Wallace’s representatives for comment. A BBC spokesperson said “any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated”.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “The allegations made are deeply concerning regarding today’s reporting.

“It’s right that a thorough investigation is conducted, but this of course is one for the BBC and you will have seen their statement saying that they ‘take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place’.

“While that process is underway it wouldn’t be right for me to comment. I believe the BBC is currently undertaking a workplace culture review to deliver clear and timely recommendations, and it’s essential that staff and the wider public have confidence that the BBC takes these issues seriously.”

Katy Brand has spoken out after a resurfaced MasterChef clip showed Gregg Wallace directed a “crass” innuendo her way.

On Thursday (28 November), it was revealed that Wallace had stepped down as host of the BBC cookery series amid an investigation into alleged inappropriate comments made across a 17-year period.

Since news broke of the scandal, several stars to have appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark and Geordie Shore’s Charlotte Crosby, have hit out at the host for alleged remarks they heard when they were filming episodes.

One lewd comment made by Wallace occurred in 2013, directed at comedian Brand, actually made it to air – and has gone viral in the wake of the news.

See Brand’s response here:

The greengrocer-turned-presenter is stepping back from ‘MasterChef’ while allegations of historical misconduct are investigated.

The Independent’s chief TV critic Nick Hilton looks back on his career as an unlikely TV star, which followed a tough start in life.

Sir Rod Stewart has hit out at “bully” Gregg Wallace for allegedly “humiliating” his wife when she was on MasterChef.

The musician’s claims arrive after it was announced Wallace had stepped down from the BBC cookery competition following allegations of inappropriate sexual comments over several years.

In the wake of the news that the BBC was investigating Wallace’s behaviour, Stewart shared a post in which he claimed the host treated Penny Lancaster in a nasty manner when she was on the show in 2021.

A BBC spokesman 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.”