Chloe Jackson
MasterChef star Gregg Wallace has responded to the allegations against him in a new Instagram video, claiming 'this isn’t right'.
Last week (28 November), Wallace stepped down from his presenting role on MasterChef following an investigation 'in relation to historical allegations of misconduct'.
The BBC said 13 people, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, came forward to accuse the 60-year-old of making inappropriate sexual comments.
The people in question had worked with Wallace on a range of different TV shows spanning a 17-year period.
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Wark appeared on MasterChef in 2011 and alleged to the BBC that Wallace had made 'sexualised' jokes during filming, which she said were 'really, really in the wrong place.'
Wallace’s lawyers said 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'.
MasterChef's production company Banijay said: “Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.
“While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process."
Meanwhile, a BBC spokesperson told PA: "We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated."
This morning (1 December), Wallace has released a new video on Instagram hitting out at the allegations, saying: “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."
He continued: "Apparently now, I’m reading in the paper, there’s been 13 complaints in that time.”
The presenter added that the complaints are 'coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age, just from Celebrity MasterChef', and that 'this isn’t right'.
In a second video, he said: “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?"
This isn't the first time Wallace has spoken out since he stepped down from his role last week, having previously thanked people for the 'reaching out' and showing their support.
Taking to Instagram last week (28 November), the presenter said: "I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support.
"That's good of you. Thank you very much."