Gregg Wallace told to ‘shut up & listen’ as MasterChef host blasted by TV stars after bizarre ‘middle-aged women’ rant
GREGG Wallace has been told to "shut up and listen" by TV stars after the MasterChef host went on a bizarre rant about "middle-aged women".
Lord Craig Mackinlay and TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall shared their opinions on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
In a bizarre Instagram post earlier today, Wallace blasted "middle-class women of a certain age" for making complaints about him.
The MasterChef host's comments were discussed by the panel with Victoria Derbyshire filling in for Kuenssberg.
When quizzed about the post, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said: "I think the intervention is is not wise. I don't know Gregg well, I've met him a couple of times.
"He's very likeable. He's a very professional screen presence.
"I have a very talented chef on Masterchef right at the moment, and she's doing incredibly well, and I've been really enjoying watching her and enjoying Gregg's presenting.
"I think it's likely that Gregg has what we might call a bawdy sense of humour. Clearly, that's offended people.
"I think one of the issues is that down the years people have not felt able to tell him when he might want to rein it in a bit, and clearly he's crossed some lines.
"In terms of how he's going about defending himself. I understand the instinct when you feel you're backed into a corner, but I don't think it's smart to come out talking like that when at the moment he should probably be listening more questions for the BBC."
Lord Mackinlay then waded in on the debate, with the former MP saying: "I don't know him. He was well on the way of becoming a national treasure with the type of programmes he's doing. Is he, bawdy? Is he a bit laddish?
"I think the barrier has moved over the years, and perhaps he is overstretched into lewd behaviour, sexual behaviour, but that is for the investigation to look into, and I agree with you.
"Probably at the moment he's best to shut up and see where it goes."
Wallace has also faced scrutiny from other TV stars after the allegations were revealed and his subsequent statement.
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp also slammed Wallace in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
She said: "Within 1hr of meeting Gregg Walllace he told me of a sex act that he & his partner at the time enjoyed “every morning”, she’d just left the room, we were filming a pilot.
"Did he get off on how embarrassed I was? It was totally unprofessional, I’m a #MiddleClassWomanOfaCertainAge."
Times Radio presenter and 2017 Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir posted a cryptic message after the news broke earlier this week, saying: "Always keep your receipts."
The Sunday Times have now reported that BBC executive Kate Phillips raised concerns Wallace’s behaviour was “unacceptable and cannot continue”.
The intervention came after broadcaster and former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah, complained about inappropriate comments during filming.
Yesterday, Aasmah wrote on Twitter: "In 2017, I took part in Celebrity Masterchef. I put my first dish down in front of the judges and the cameras paused to reset.
"In front of everyone, Gregg Wallace told me to tell a colleague at the BBC “that she was a sexy b****.” No-one said anything. And yes, I did complain."
Celebrity MasterChef winner Emma Kennedy also claimed she first reported Gregg Wallace’s behaviour 12 years ago.
The author revealed she complained in 2012 after witnessing his inappropriate conduct towards a woman working alongside the show.
Emma Kennedy claimed she had seen co-host Wallace grope a camera assistant during a photoshoot for the finalists 12 years ago.
MasterChef host Wallace is the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
It comes after the TV chef was accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb presenter Kirsty Wark - accusations he denies.
Wallace, 60, has stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
Speaking to his followers earlier today, Wallace said on Instagram: "I have been doing Masterchef for 20 years - amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life.
"And apparently now I am reading in the paper there’s been 13 complaints in that time.
"In the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity Masterchef.
"This isn't right. In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo, can you imagine?"
The cooking show’s production company, Banijay UK, yesterday said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
The BBC said it would be inappropriate to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay’s investigation.
Wallace’s lawyers say “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
One witness claimed the former green grocer, 60, walked into the studio naked apart from a "sock over his penis" then did a dance.
They also said he mimed a sex act as a worker knelt to clean his trousers.
The Sun revealed one former contestant even alleged the MasterChef judge groped her while she was cooking on the set of the show as the cameras rolled.
Another woman claims Wallace told her in a busy pub that she aroused him, made more lewd comments and squeezed her bum while a former staffer claimed he made offensive Asian remarks on set in 2017.
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The Sun first reported Wallace’s behaviour last month.
On Thursday he stepped down while allegations of misconduct are investigated, while singer Sir Rod Stewart accused him of humiliating his wife Penny on the show.
