Gregg Wallace, 60, is said to have come to terms with the fact that there is a possibility he will be fired from MasterChef once the BBC concludes its investigation into him
Gregg Wallace has allegedly told his friends he is “f****d” while expressing his fears that he will be sacked from MasterChef once the investigation into harassment and groping claims ends.
The 60-year-old judge has stepped away from presenting the cookery show after producer Banijay UK announced it would be launching an external review into historical allegations of misconduct. He has denied any wrongdoing as his lawyers said “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
However, after coming under fire in recent weeks, Wallace has “quietly conceded” that he has “lost everything” and knows that there is a possibility he will be fired from MasterChef, a source has claimed. The unnamed source added that the judge knows he will have to “step aside” and “has come to terms with it.”
Speaking to The Sun, the source said: “Gregg’s conceded he has lost everything. To put it bluntly, he’s told people, ‘I’m f***ed’. He came out swinging but he has quietly conceded that he knows his time on MasterChef is over and that he will be stepping aside. He has contested the sexual allegations and insisted any jokes he made were just jokes. He said he never meant to cause any offence. Gregg has been under a huge amount of pressure since the allegations came to light and tried his best to fight his corner.”
The newspaper also mentioned another source who claimed that while the probe is ongoing, John Torode will stay on MasterChef and a female will step into Wallace’s role. They said: “MasterChef is a juggernaut of a show and the wheels don’t stop turning. Not long after the probe into Gregg’s conduct, casting started for the celebrity series. While the probe is ongoing, it has been made clear to production that John is going to be staying and that a female will step into Gregg’s role.”
“The BBC and Banijay UK have now spoken to a number of different individuals and they know they must be seen to take action. Gregg knows the time will come when he has to step aside and as much as that pains him, it seems he has come to terms with it.”
Last week, Banijay UK – the producers of MasterChef – said in a statement: “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. These include multiple ways of reporting issues, including anonymously. HR contact details are promoted, and contributors are assigned a point of contact on set available to discuss any issues or concerns.”
Meanwhile, BBC bosses said the corporation will not “tolerate behaviour that falls below the standards we expect” and will continue to champion “a culture that is kind, inclusive and respectful.” In the message sent to staff by the corporation’s director-general Tim Davie, and Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, on Friday last week, they further said that they would be supporting Banijay UK with their investigation and added: “It is critical that every part of the BBC upholds our values including where companies are working with us.”
A BBC spokesperson told The Mirror: “In recent days there has been concerning allegations made via the media about the alleged conduct of Gregg Wallace many of which relate to shows made for the BBC. These media stories are running alongside an independent investigation, which was instigated after formal complaints were made direct to the BBC and were referred to Banijay UK for further investigation. We would like to thank those who have had the courage to speak out. It can be hard to come forward, but we want to assure everyone who does that we will treat anything raised with us with the greatest possible care.
“Banijay UK launched the review because they have the direct contractual relationship with Gregg Wallace. He is not employed by the BBC. When issues have been raised with the BBC we have taken action, referring issues to the relevant production company and challenging his behaviour directly as has been widely reported.
“We hope Banijay UK’s independent investigation can be concluded rigorously and as swiftly as possible. We want the review to follow due process and ensure fairness to all involved. We will provide whatever assistance we can to the investigation. We are already running our own review into workplace culture. It is vital that we have an industry that is not only committed to the highest standards of behaviour and conduct, but that is reflected in people’s experiences. We have always been clear that should people want to raise issues with the BBC, they will be taken very seriously.”
The Mirror has contacted Gregg Wallace’s representative for comment.
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