Broadcaster Piers Morgan has said MasterChef star John Torode’s silence on co-star Gregg Wallace’s allegations is getting ‘damningly louder by the day’
Piers Morgan has branded Gregg Wallace a “sexist pig” as he brands MasterChef co-star John Torode’s silence “damning”.
The MasterChef host is currently surrounded by controversy as he faces claims of making “inappropriate sexual jokes” amongst other behavioural complaints. Last week, it was announced he would be stepping away from his role as host of the BBC cooking show as an external review of misconduct allegations takes place.
Wallace’s lawyer has said: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”. His MasterChef co-host John Torode has remained silent, which broadcaster Piers gets “more damningly louder by the day”. Piers has weighed in on the scandal as he said: “I don’t know Gregg Wallace, but he’s obviously a David Brent-scale sexist pig at best and possibly, if the groping allegations are true, a lot worse.
“One person who almost certainly knows the truth is his long-time MasterChef co-host John Torode, whose silence gets more damningly louder by the day.” The former Good Morning Britain presenter has said that he understands and empathises with the “cacophony of outrage” from women over Wallace’s alleged behaviour.
He also said in his column for the Sun: “I stand with the women who are outraged over the way Gregg Wallace has treated women and applaud those who have finally spoken out about it after years of being too worried about the consequences.”
Wallace has appeared to have been left furious by John Torode’s silence amid the series of allegations. The MasterChef star, 60, has unfollowed John and his wife, Lisa Faulkner on Instagram. Those close to Wallace have claimed that he was deeply upset that John, 59, remained tight-lipped following bombshell claims from high-profile stars including Sir Rod Stewart, Kirsty Wark, Charlotte Crosby, and Ulrika Jonsson.
Wallace has been accused of making inappropriate sexual remarks and jokes by 13 people over a 17 year period. The TV presenter has also been accused of groping individuals – with more people making allegations. John ignored the drama surrounding his former colleague when it broke on Thursday. Hours after the news broke that Wallace was stepping down from the long-running BBC cooking show, John was snapping photos of himself in the gym after a sweaty spin class.
After working alongside Wallace for almost twenty years, it has been claimed that all along, behind-the-scenes on Masterchef, there was huge tension between the two co-hosts. Wallace appeared on screens this week as MasterChef: The Professionals continues to air. However, it has since been confirmed two MasterChef Christmas specials have been pulled from the BBC ’s schedule. It has also been confirmed that three episodes of BBC Two’s Inside the Factory, which are repeats, have been taken out of the schedule.
A BBC spokesperson said: “As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned. The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.”
The Mirror has contacted John Torode’s representatives for comment.
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