Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: BBC, Celebrity, TV And Film, UK News, Gregg Wallace
Rhianna Benson
John Torode has issued a statement in response to the misconduct allegations made against his former MasterChef presenting partner Gregg Wallace.
Wallace, 60, stepped down from his long-standing presenting role on the show last week (28 Nov) amid an investigation 'in relation to historical allegations of misconduct'.
Production firm Banijay UK announced at the time that an 'immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate' was underway, and that Wallace was 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process'.
The BBC later claimed, however, that a total of 13 individuals have come forward, accusing him of making inappropriate sexual comments while on set.
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Newsnight host Kirsty Wark is amongst them - along with several other individuals who worked with Wallace on different shows over a period of 17 years.
The news presenter alleges that he directed 'sexualised' joke at her during filming, which she said were 'really, really in the wrong place.'
He was later accused (on Tuesday 3 December) of having inappropriately touched a female co-worker on her bottom after an event.
The BBC say another woman claimed Wallace had pressed his crotch against her behind the scenes of a different show.
Wallace has denied all allegations made about his behaviour, previously accusing 'middle aged women of a certain age' as having been the ones to stir up false rumours.
Taking to Instagram today, however, his co-presenter John Torode has now broken his silence in a message posted today (4 December).
"Since last Friday I have been away filming MasterChef overseas," he wrote. "I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it.
"During the last few days, I’ve been trying to make the best cookery programme, so being busy making the show and caring for our contestants has allowed me little time to think about anything else, but that has been hard."
He added: "But as I hope everyone appreciates there is an investigation underway, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward."
Torode has presented the show alongside Wallace since 2005.
The BBC also revealed last week that MasterChef's annual Christmas special had been axed, telling fans of the culinary competition: "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."