4 weeks ago
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Former MasterChef big Gregg Wallace has vowed helium volition "not spell quietly", amid reports that helium has been sacked from MasterChef.
It comes aft the TV host faced an investigation, commissioned by MasterChef's accumulation institution Banijay UK, into alleged inappropriate behaviour portion moving for the BBC.
In November, the 60-year-old stepped backmost from presenting the cooking amusement aft accusations that helium made intersexual comments towards unit and personage guests connected a scope of programmes implicit 17 years.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark, writer and histrion Emma Kennedy, and presenter Kirstie Allsopp, were among the high-profile figures who made claims of inappropriate behaviour against Wallace.
In a statement, released up of the work of the summary of a study into the claims, the 60-year-old said helium had been "cleared of the astir superior and sensational accusations" made against him.
However, helium said the report, carried retired by autarkic instrumentality steadfast Lewis Silkin, had recovered him "primarily blameworthy of inappropriate connection betwixt 2005 and 2018".
Wallace's statement, published connected Instagram, came hours earlier the BBC News reported that 50 much radical had made claims to the corp against the presenter, including allegations helium groped 1 MasterChef idiosyncratic and pulled his trousers down successful beforehand of another.
In his statement, Wallace labelled BBC News's claims arsenic "uncorroborated tittle-tattle".
Wallace wrote: "I person taken the determination to talk retired up of the work of the Silkin's study - a determination I bash not instrumentality lightly.
"But aft 21 years of loyal work to the BBC, I cannot beryllium successful soundlessness portion my estimation is further damaged to support others.
"I person present been cleared by the Silkin's study of the astir superior and sensational accusations made against me.
"The astir damaging claims (including from nationalist figures which person not been upheld) were recovered to beryllium baseless aft a afloat and forensic six-month investigation.
"To beryllium clear, the Silkin's study exonerates maine of each the superior allegations which made headlines past twelvemonth and finds maine chiefly blameworthy of inappropriate connection betwixt 2005 and 2018."
'I was hired arsenic the cheeky greengrocer - present that's a problem'
Wallace said helium recognised that "some of my humour and language" was astatine times "inappropriate" and, for that, helium apologised "without reservation".
"But I was ne'er the caricature present being sold for clicks," Wallace, who besides referred to his caller diagnosis of autism, added.
"I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef arsenic the cheeky greengrocer. A existent idiosyncratic with warmth, character, unsmooth edges, and all.
"For implicit 2 decades, that authenticity was portion of the brand. Now, successful a sanitised world, that aforesaid property is seen arsenic a problem."
Wallace: Complaints from 'middle-class women of a definite age'
Shortly aft the allegations archetypal emerged, Wallace recorded a video wherever helium dismissed his accusers arsenic "middle-class women of a definite age".
His remarks were met with immense disapproval - including from Downing Street, wherever a spokesperson for the premier curate described them arsenic "completely inappropriate and misogynistic".
Wallace responded by posting a follow-up clip wherever helium apologised and said helium "wasn't successful a bully space" erstwhile helium posted the comments.
Wallace was replaced successful the 20th play of MasterChef, which aired this spring, by edifice professional and erstwhile I'm A Celebrity contestant Grace Dent. Several Christmas episodes of the amusement were besides pulled from the BBC's 2024 festive schedule.
In April, Wallace spoke to the Daily Mail, denying each accusations against him and saying helium had contemplated termination pursuing the allegations.
Wallace's lawyers person antecedently called allegations that helium engages successful behaviour of a sexually harassing quality "entirely false".
A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Banijay UK instructed the instrumentality steadfast Lewis Silkin to tally an probe into allegations against Gregg Wallace. We are not going to remark until the probe is implicit and the findings are published."
A Banijay spokesperson told Sky News: "We won't beryllium commenting until our study is published." They person signalled the study volition beryllium published aboriginal this week oregon next.
Banijay antecedently said Wallace was "committed to afloat co-operating" with the outer review.
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Alongside MasterChef, Wallace presented Inside The Factory for BBC Two from 2015 to 2023.
He besides featured connected assorted BBC shows implicit the years, including Saturday Kitchen, Eat Well For Less, Supermarket Secrets, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, arsenic good arsenic being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant successful 2014.
More recently, Wallace has been promoting his wellness and manner website, offering one-to-one coaching from some himself and a squad of experts, which includes nutritionists and doctors, and his woman Anna successful the relation of look curator.
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