Gregg Wallace: My accusers are just 'handful of middle-class women of certain age'
Gregg Wallace has issued a defiant response to mounting allegations against him, dismissing his accusers as "middle-class women of a certain age".
Wallace, 60, has stepped back from presenting MasterChef over accusations he made sexual comments towards staff and celebrity guests on a range of programmes over 17 years.
In a series of videos posted on Instagram before 7am on Sunday, Wallace says he has worked with more than 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," Wallace says.
"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."
His videos have prompted outrage online, with presenter Kirstie Allsopp claiming his behaviour was "totally unprofessional" when they filmed a TV pilot together, signing her post off with '#MiddleClassWomanOfACertainAge'.
In a second clip on Sunday, Wallace 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?"
His legal team has said "it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature", in a statement to BBC News.
More allegations have emerged since his departure from MasterChef was announced on Thursday.
Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark told the BBC shortly afterwards that she saw Wallace "use sexualised language in front of a number of people" when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2011.
Singer Sir Rod Stewart criticised Wallace on Instagram and claimed he "humiliated" his wife Penny Lancaster in 2021.
Wallace discussed 'sex act' with Allsopp
In her post on Sunday, Allsopp said: "Within 1 hour of meeting Gregg Wallace he told me of a sex act that he and his partner at the time enjoyed 'every morning', she'd just left the room, we were filming a pilot."
Comedian David Baddiel also commented on X: "It's not often that the internet gets behind middle-class middle-aged women these days, but thanks to Gregg Wallace for making it happen."
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'Zero complaints,' says Wallace
Wallace is yet to directly address any of the allegations but posted a third video on Sunday, saying: "Do you know how many staff made a complaint about me in that time? Absolutely none. Zero. Seriously."
On Saturday, the production company that makes MasterChef, Banijay UK, called for anyone wishing to report allegations of misconduct to contact Lewis Silkin, a legal firm appointed to lead an investigation.
Comments were 'lewd' and 'filthy'
TV director and producer Dawn Elrick told Sky News several female production staff complained to her about Wallace's conduct.
She said women allege a pattern of behaviour that amounted to "bragging in a heightened sexual way" and using graphic language she describes as "lewd" and "quite filthy" - sometimes when cameras were still rolling.
Ms Elrick said she compiled the allegations in a letter to the BBC, who replied requesting more information and evidence.
But she said the response "kind of just missed the point" because, for production staff, coming forward is "very hard".
Ms Elrick described the allegations against Wallace as "like one of these 'open secrets'". "I can't see that they [the BBC] haven't known about this for a while," she added.
Wallace's representatives have been approached for a response to Ms Elrick's comments.
Wallace dropped by charity
Banijay previously said Wallace has "committed to fully co-operating throughout the process" after the BBC received complaints over "historical allegations of misconduct".
On Friday, the charity Ambitious About Autism said it has dropped him as an ambassador, citing the "recent allegations".
The presenter has three children and his youngest, five-year-old Sid, is non-verbal and autistic.
In October, Wallace responded to reports that a previous BBC review had found he could continue working at the corporation after reports of an alleged incident in 2018 when he appeared on Impossible Celebrities.
Wallace said on Instagram those claims had been investigated "promptly" at the time and said he had not said "anything sexual" while appearing on the game show.
In a video posted on Thursday about the new allegations, he said: "I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support. It's good of you, thank you very much."
BBC has 'robust processes'
A BBC spokesperson said: "We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
"Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay's ongoing investigation or otherwise influence it."
