Gregg Wallace: Two MORE people facing investigation over fresh allegations

A probe into Gregg Wallace's inappropriate behaviour has revealed two more people are facing an investigation over new allegations.

Banijay, the company that producers BBC show MasterChef, today released an executive summary of the report they commissioned after allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate comments from host Wallace. The findings come after law firm Lewis Silkin spent seven months speaking to 41 complainants who were among the total of 78 witnesses, in a bid to try and substantiate the 83 allegations made against Wallace.

Last week, Gregg was sacked from his role on MasterChef,which he held for over two decades. He had starred alongside John Torode for years, with Grace Dent rumoured to be stepping in as his replacement.

READ MORE: Gregg Wallace's damning MasterChef report in full - sex slurs to state of undress

READ MORE: ITV chef James Martin takes extreme measure to protect himself after incident

The report, which was released today, states Wallace's position on the long-running show became “untenable” after more than half of the allegations of inappropriate behaviour were upheld following a seven-month investigation.

However, the case does not end with Gregg as the report reveals allegations against two other individuals were also upheld. The two names were not given in the report.

The report stated: “Lewis Silkin’s findings include two further allegations which were upheld, relating to other individuals." It found that many of the situations which were later complained about, were brushed off at the time. “Mr Wallace was consistently described as energetic, humorous, and generally able to put contestants at ease, which contributed to the show’s success,” it said.

“However, these interactions and some comments made within earshot of contestants or colleagues sometimes resulted in offence and/or left people feeling uncomfortable. Sometimes other people who were present laughed along. Occasionally these comments were called out in the moment by people who heard them, but very often they were not.”

It comes after the boss of Banijay UK, Patrick Holland, confirmed that an executive summary would be published soon and not the full report. He said: "We need to do all we can to ensure that everyone in production in the most junior roles feels confident to call out bad behaviour. The culture of television has changed dramatically in the last 20 years.

"Whilst we should never be complacent there are now myriad ways for those who experience bad behaviour in the workplace to speak out, whether anonymously, via a hotline, or to dedicated welfare officers."

In a lengthy statement released days before the report was shared with the public,a defiant Gregg said he "will not go quietly" and "will not be cancelled for convenience". He said: "I've taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins report - a decision I do not take lightly. But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others. I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.

"The most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six month investigation. My decision to go public now is also driven by the fact the BBC News division are intending to platform legally unsafe accusations, including claims which have already been investigated and not upheld by the BBC and found not credible by Silkins. The BBC is no longer providing balanced and impartial public service journalism."

He added: "It is peddling baseless and sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories. The BBC is choosing to allow BBC News to run with this uncorroborated tittle tattle in an attempt to 'get ahead' of the Silkin's summary report and derail what has been an extremely thorough process.

"This feels to me like BBC News is chasing slanderous click-bait rather than delivering impartial journalism. To be clear, the Silkin's Report exonerates me of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds me primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018. I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks."

He concluded: "I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all. For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem. My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of Master Chef. Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over twenty years. That failure is now being quietly buried.

"Unfortunately, the full report (over 200 pages) will never be seen. Later this week, the BBC will publish a short Executive Summary. What really concerns me about the short summary is others who have been found guilty of serious allegations have been erased from the published version of events. I, and I'm sure the public, would like to know why? I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience. I was tried by media and hung out to dry well before the facts were established. The full story of this incredible injustice must be told and it is very much a matter of public interest."

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