Gregg Wallace ‘sexual comments’ probe is ‘tip of the iceberg’ & MasterChef has ‘toxic environment’, ex-contestant claims
A FORMER MasterChef contestant has claimed Gregg Wallace's "sexual comments" probe is just the "tip of the iceberg".
The ex-contestant, who did not wish to be identified, also claimed the show had a "toxic environment" and that he considered quitting it on his first day.
He alleged the "abuse" of contestants was widespread through the "production team", but was too scared to speak out after signing a non-disclosure agreement.
Speaking to Sky's Katie Spencer, he said: "I was horrified. I'd never seen anything like it, genuinely, I was really quite shocked at that really toxic environment.
"What I witnessed… as a contestant was that there was a systemic problem that was larger than just him, in my view.
"Gregg… would occasionally crack jokes that in different ways felt inappropriate but he wasn't the only one."
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Wallace has stepped back from presenting the BBC cooking show MasterChef following allegations he made sexual remarks towards staff and celebrity guests over a 17-year period.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have made claims, with Wallace being investigated by MasterChef's production company Banijay UK.
This comes as MasterChef contestant, Aasmah Mir, claimed she warned the BBC about his behaviour seven years ago.
The Times Radio host says she complained to BBC executives about inappropriate comments allegedly made by Wallace when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017.
She accused the presenter of sexist behaviour on set that was "unacceptable" and said it should not continue.
Despite reporting this to the BBC in 2017, Wallace allegedly went on to demean women for a further six years.
An email to the broadcaster by Aasmah expressed how she didn't want to feel guilt if further allegations were to emerge in the future.
She told The Times how she also sent another email which told the corporation: "This must not happen again to another woman"