Grace Dent tipped to replace Gregg Wallace as MasterChef host amid misconduct allegations…


https://uk.yahoo.com/news/grace-dent...093720765.html

The company memo from Nestle reveals BBC knew about 'unacceptable' behaviour from Gregg Wallace on factory show last year…[/B]

The BBC was alerted to Gregg Wallace's "unacceptable" behaviour while filming Inside The Factory more than a year and a half ago, Sky News can confirm.

A memo to staff at the Nestle factory in York shows concerns were raised with both the broadcaster and production company Voltage TV after Wallace's final visit in February 2023.

The memo, which was shared on the company intranet, says the "experience of some of the team taking part in the filming had not been a pleasant one" and had "compromised" Nestle's values.

An accompanying letter from Nestle's head of media relations to the factory manager states: "We have written to the production company... and spoken to the BBC to bring our unacceptable experience to their attention in the hope that it is not repeated in other workplaces around the UK."

While the letter does not name Wallace directly, it is understood to be in reference to him.

Wallace, who is best known for being a MasterChef presenter, is facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour from more than a dozen people across a range of shows over a 17-year period.

His lawyers have said it's "entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature".

Wallace quit as co-presenter of Inside the Factory in March 2023, saying he intended to focus on other TV commitments, and his young son, who is autistic.

At the time, there were reports the 60-year-old former greengrocer had offended some staff at the York factory with inappropriate comments.

The company's memo reiterates a "zero-tolerance approach towards any allegation of discrimination, harassment or bullying of any kind in the workplace, whether this be by an employee, contractor, or visitor".

It was the programme's fifth visit to a Nestle site and its third to York, but the memo says "we will not be working with Inside the Factory again in the future" as the show "did not meet our high standards of respect".

"We will not tolerate any kind of racism, misogyny, homophobia, bullying, exclusion or harassment and we have strict policies in place to deal swiftly and decisively with this kind of behaviour," the memo adds.

Sky News has contacted representatives for Wallace, and the BBC and Voltage TV for comment.

Earlier on Tuesday, the BBC confirmed it was pulling three repeat episodes of Inside The Factory from the Christmas schedule.

It told Sky News it would not be removing them from iPlayer "at this stage".

Two celebrity MasterChef Christmas specials have also been removed from the schedule.

Wallace has temporarily stepped down from the cooking show while the complaints are externally reviewed by a law firm.

Groping allegation

More allegations against the presenter surfaced on Tuesday - with two women claiming Wallace had inappropriately touched them.

One told the BBC he "groped" her bottom, while another alleged he laughed after touching her bottom "with his waist and penis" when brushing past her.

A third claimed Wallace's penis was partially exposed in his dressing room in what she felt was a "power play".

The Guardian also reported a complaint that he once asked a sign language interpreter to translate "big boobs" and "sexy bum" in front of the audience at the BBC Good Food Show.

Sky News has also asked the BBC and Wallace's representatives for comment on these claims.

An increasing number of people have accused the presenter of inappropriate sexual comments in recent days, including a former contestant who told Sky News one remark left her crying in the toilets.

Jackie Kearney said she had been "troubled" by Wallace's "household favourite status" as she felt he was "a bit of a sleaze behind closed doors".

Another former contestant told Sky News the claims are just the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to MasterChef.

He claimed to have witnessed a "toxic environment" on set and the problem was "larger" than just the presenter.

On Sunday, Wallace responded with a social media video dismissing his accusers as "middle-class women of a certain age".

The remark prompted a huge backlash, with even Downing Street commenting.

He apologised in another clip on Monday, saying he "wasn't in a good head space" when he posted the previous video.

Read more:
What are the allegations - and what has Wallace said?
'Middle-aged women': An epic failure in crisis management

What have the BBC and producers said?

Banijay UK has appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to lead the investigation.

A spokesperson said the company takes complaints "incredibly seriously" but will not comment on individual allegations while the external investigation is ongoing.

"It is important to note that MasterChef welfare processes are regularly adapted and strengthened and there are clear protocols to support both crew and contributors," the Banijay spokesperson said.

"These include multiple ways of reporting issues, including anonymously."

In response to reports multiple complaints had been raised with the BBC, a source for the corporation said it would not comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, but that it would be "wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us - not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken".

Last week, a BBC spokesperson said any issues raised are taken seriously and there are "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," they said.

Yes, she has the job.

BBC now has the Big Problem,
of the Series that they have recorded with Greg Wallace.


Many are saying it can not be shown
Now the BBC has sacked him.

Front Pages from Weds, yesterday

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/l...8f1b4da29d.png


https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/l...de8a8476d.jpeg

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/07...2053034576.jpg


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...ct-claims.html

I would still show it personally.

It's only fair to the contestants to show it.

I assume it could be on iPlayer only?

the fact that he wears a watch like that to a gym really does say it all about this roaster

:joker:

the gaslighting from him is insane

I always thought he was brash and ignorant. I also couldn't understand what a grocer was doing on Masterchef. He's not quite classy enough for Romford market imo...

"While filming a cookery show I entered the dressing room of one of the contestants and,
due to my autism, my trousers accidentally fell down."

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GveoNk4W...jpg&name=small

[due to my autism, my trousers accidentally fell down]



Dirty Bugger

It’s actually bizarre that his friends are supporting him with this ‘reason’

I share the same issue with seams / textures etc but he apparently dropped his kecks on a regular basis which is disgusting .. Bono of U2 supposedly does the same thing in company


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agreed. I can’t wear jeans because of the texture but it doesn’t mean if I did I’d pull my jeans down when women were present. Or at least give a warning. Did he do that with men?

That would be a fair compromise.

Today

[MasterChef presenter John Torode has said
he is subject of an allegation of using racist language,
upheld as part of an inquiry into separate allegations
against co-host Gregg Wallace.

In an Instagram post on Monday,
Torode said the allegation was that
he made the remarks in 2018 or 2019
and that he had apologised immediately
afterwards.

However, the TV chef said he had "no recollection"
of any of it, adding: "I do not believe that it happened."

It comes after an inquiry ordered by
MasterChef's production company Banijay
found that 45 allegations about Wallace's behaviour
on the programme were upheld,
for which he apologised.]


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8d68r07qq0o

MMM think the BBC want two women heading up this show, Torode is toast now as well I suspect

it wont be just 2 women...

What do you mean by that?

OK


But the series that has already been recorded
do you show it

Or not?

I would like to know what John exactly said tbh.

Of Course.


It is Kept Secret

John Torode

Has now been Sacked by the BBC

Amazing Both are Sacked now


He used Racist Language in 2018-2019


More Front pages tonight

He denies saying anything, and apparently what was said was in a social setting ... its obvious they want these 2 gone

No surprises, it has been a bit of a witch hunt, they let Greg get away with it for years and he was never reprimanded, when someone reported him to a producer he said ...you have hardly been Jimmy Savilled....so they didnt take it seriously until they wanted rid of him, same as Gino, not for one moment am I defending Gregg Wallace but if your employer condones your behaviour by offering you contract after contract its highly unlikely you will change your ways

Fair Point
Wise Cherie

But the top brass who allowed Bob Vylan to broadcast his hate are still in employment..

BBCnewsHD

Just stated John Torode used a Serious Racist Word?

Fired today by the BBC

Yes,

The BBC will be Front Page Tonight

I agree with you, but at least we know what Greg's actions were meant to be.

Because John's meant to have used racist language, but the BBC haven't provided any evidence that he actually said anything.

No and its just whoever 'reported' him saying it, so basically anyone can be sacked now for something they might have done years ago which no one cared enough about to report at the time, but it suits them now as they can get two fresh faces.....

[but it suits them now as they can get two fresh faces.....]


Yes, part of their master plan.

oh I think I might know who reported John now :laugh:

John, 59, is married to actress Lisa Faulkner, 53, with the couple presenting John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen on ITV. While John has remained mostly tight-lipped on his former co-star Wallace's behaviour on-set, his wife has spoken out about what she witnessed on the show. Last December, she claimed that the presenter made 'rude joke after rude joke' during her time on MasterChef.

Wallace was said to be deeply upset that John and Lisa didn't support him when allegations first surfaced, and has since unfollowed the couple on Instagram. But John and Lisa's bond doesn't appear to have been shaken by the disaster unfolding behind the scenes of MasterChef, as they focus on their own joint television project which recently launched its tenth series.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebri...-life-35557310

Wonder if ITV will keep him on....

It's dodgy ground for the BBC to be touching imo.

Sacking someone with no real evidence I mean.

Piers Morgan
@Piersmorgan

Have I got this right?
The BBC has fired
@JohnTorode1 because he allegedly made a racially insensitive comment in a
bar EIGHT YEARS ago, that he immediately apologised for, and now doesn’t
remember ever saying? Salem wants its witch trials back.