The BBC has officially severed ties with longtime “MasterChef” presenter Gregg Wallace following the publication of an independent investigation into his conduct, marking the end of his 20-year tenure on the flagship culinary competition series.
In a statement released following the Lewis Silkin investigation findings, the BBC confirmed that Wallace’s “return to ‘MasterChef’ is untenable” and that the corporation has “no plans to work with him in future.” The decision comes after what the BBC described as “a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years.”
The investigation, conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, examined claims against the 60-year-old presenter dating back to 2005. According to the BBC, Wallace’s behavior “falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.”
The corporation acknowledged institutional failures in addressing the situation earlier, stating: “Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behavior – both by the production companies running ‘MasterChef’ and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.”
The Lewis Silkin report also upheld two additional allegations relating to other individuals, which the BBC says it is taking “very seriously.” The corporation has asked producer Banijay U.K. to take action to address these issues as a priority.
The investigation began last year after Wallace stepped down from “MasterChef” in November 2024 following initial allegations of sexually inappropriate comments made by 13 people who worked with him between 2005 and 2022. The situation escalated dramatically when BBC News revealed that 50 new accusers had come forward, including 11 women who alleged inappropriate sexual behavior such as groping and touching.
Wallace initially denied all allegations through his lawyers, calling them “entirely false.” He later posted a controversial Instagram video claiming the accusations came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.” More recently, he posted a combative statement claiming vindication from the Lewis Silkin investigation, though he acknowledged the report found him “primarily guilty of inappropriate language” between 2005 and 2018.
“I recognize that some of my humor and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologize without reservation,” Wallace wrote in his Instagram statement. However, he also struck a defiant tone, declaring: “I will not go quietly. I will not be canceled for convenience.”
The BBC’s decision leaves the future of “MasterChef” uncertain. The corporation stated it has not yet made a final decision on broadcasting the series that was filmed last year, acknowledging this is “disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part.” Banijay U.K. will consult further with amateur contestants at an appropriate time, according to the BBC.
Banijay U.K. executive chair Patrick Holland addressed the scandal last week at a London media dinner. He used the opportunity to discuss broader industry concerns about workplace culture, emphasizing the need for systemic change.
“We need to do all we can to ensure everyone in production in the most junior roles feels confident to call out bad behavior,” Holland said, noting that “the culture of television in my mind has changed dramatically in the last 20 years.”
The BBC concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to workplace standards: “There is no place for the abuse of power, unacceptable behavior or language at the BBC, or shows made for the BBC.”
Wallace’s departure ends a two-decade partnership with co-host John Torode that helped establish “MasterChef” as a cornerstone of BBC One’s programming and spawned multiple international versions of the format.
