A top legal firm has reportedly been hired to help with the investigation into Gregg Wallace.
MasterChef’s probe into the under fire TV presenter has begun as they look into claims about his behaviour. A series of women are set to be interviewed by law firm Lewis Silkin after they were brought in by the show’s production company. Wallace stepped back from the hit BBC One cooking show while production company Banijay UK investigated claims of alleged misconduct.
The move followed alleged sexual misconduct allegations from 13 women over 17 years, including Kirsty Wark. Wallace, who fronted the show since 2005, was accused of making “inappropriate sexual jokes”, asking for the number of female production team members and getting undressed “too close” to women on the show.
He also also been accused of ‘groping’ three women in separate incidents. His representatives said: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.” The first stage of the probe is reportedly underway, with a string of women who complained about Wallace invited to attend to give evidence.
It has been claimed Kirsty Wark and Penny Lancaster are among those approached. Banijay UK are hoping to have the probe completed “as quickly as possible” but admit the process is “very time consuming”. It is not yet know which of the women have agreed to attend an interview.
Wallace will also be asked for his own account of alleged incidents as archive footage and documents will be combed through. “The lawyers spent a bit of time gathering their thoughts and making a plan before Christmas, and now they are conducting the interviews,” a source told the Sun.
“They have approached anyone who previously raised concerns, either with the BBC or with the production team, but have also made it clear that anybody with what they believe to be relevant information can also contact them. They are sitting down with women from all walks of life, some of whom have spoken out publicly and others who have not been named so far – ranging from junior producers to big name talent in their own right.”
Broadcaster Kirsty, best known for hosting BBC Newsnight, claimed in November that Wallace told “jokes of a sexualised nature” on two occasions during filming. She added that crew and other contestants were present. Speaking to BBC News, Kirsty said Wallace’s alleged remarks were “really, really in the wrong place”.
Kirsty finished second on that year’s Celebrity Masterchef and later said she was considering opening her own restaurant. Sir Rod Stewart alleged the TV presenter had “humiliated” his wife Penny Lancaster when she was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021.
He said: “So Greg Wallace gets fired from Masterchef. Good riddance Wallace…You humiliated my wife when she was on the show but you had that bit cut out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart.” Penny said onLoose Women: “I didn’t realise my husband had sent that post out until it was out.
“And of course, you can imagine the influx of inquiries there were. I most definitely was witness and victim to some of the bullying and harassment behaviour of Gregg Wallace and, unfortunately, a lot of those involved in the production team were also witness to that. And I really feel that he used his position of power to, I believe, intimidate and cause distress to a lot of people on set. And it’s really unfortunate that someone like him is allowed to get away with that, and while others sort of stand by and let it happen at the same time.”
The Mirror has contacted Banijay UK for comment.
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