An MP has proposed that MasterChef be pulled from TV as the BBC delves into the Gregg Wallace complaints. Wallace, renowned for hosting various MasterChef shows, is facing accusations from 13 people over 17 years regarding allegedly inappropriate sexual comments during filming. These claims include those from former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark. Wallace's lawyers have firmly denied the allegations, stating that his behavior is not of a sexually harassing nature.

Backlash Against Gregg Wallace

The 60-year-old star has been facing a growing backlash. After stepping aside from the BBC show over the weekend, he denied the claims, arguing that they originate from "a handful of middle-class women of a certain age." This has sparked further discussions and calls for action.

Call for MasterChef to Be Taken Off Air

Labour politician Rupa Huq, a member of the culture, media and sport committee, believes that having the BBC show on air could be "massively triggering" for the women involved. She expressed her concerns on BBC Radio 4's Today, stating that while the show is scheduled for 9 pm and is part of the Christmas schedules, it keeps making headlines. Huq suggested pausing the show during the investigation to avoid causing distress. She said, "I think possibly there is an argument for pausing while this investigation takes its course and maybe not airing it tonight. I mean it could be massively triggering for the women involved — in fact any woman involved in any type of similar incidents." She further added, "I know you are saying he has stopped presenting, but to the casual viewer there isn’t going to be any difference if he is on TV tonight. It looks like he has got away with it and I think the BBC should send a strong signal [about] this sort of behavior."

Impact on the Show

Last week, the BBC announced its plan to run the pre-recorded episodes. Monday's episode is the 16th out of 21. MasterChef, also hosted by John Torode, is on air on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Production company Banijay UK has stated that Wallace will not be part of future series while the investigation continues. His contract is reportedly on a series-by-series basis.

Wallace's Response

After the investigation became public, Wallace added fuel to the fire by claiming that the complaints came from "middle-class women of a certain age." In an Instagram video, he said, "I’ve 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, all walks of life. Apparently now, I’m reading in the paper, there’s been 13 complaints in that time. 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 20 years, 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?"

Celebrity Reactions

Celebrities have started speaking out after Wark's complaint. Aggie Mackenzie, who was on Celebrity MasterChef with Kirsty Wark in 2011, claimed on Good Morning Britain that the jokes were always smutty and endless. She said, "It was as if Gregg was some sort of dinosaur who just can’t read the room and just seemed to be allowed to carry on. I actually can’t listen to his voice now, it just sort of triggers something in me. It’s horrible actually." Celebrity MasterChef 2012 champion Emma Kennedy claimed that Wallace thought a comment he made about a woman's bottom "was funny." Property TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp thought she might "cry" after Wallace allegedly made a comment about her sex life. Sir Rod Stewart accused Wallace of "humiliating" his wife Penny Lancaster on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 with a post on Instagram saying he was a "tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully." Ulrika Jonsson claimed that when she took part in Celebrity MasterChef in 2017, the presenter made a "rape joke." Aasmah Mir, who also took part in Celebrity MasterChef in the same year, wrote on X, "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 bitch.” No-one said anything. And yes, I did complain."