Watch the second Gregg Wallace tells feminine MasterChef contestant he would ‘smash the residing daylights out of that’ pudding – as he steps down from present amid misconduct probe
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Gregg Wallace made a shocking remark to a female contestant on last week’s episode of MasterChef.
The TV star, 60, quit the BBC One cooking show on Thursday while an investigation into inappropriate behaviour is carried out by TV chiefs.
The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022.
On last week’s MasterChef, Gregg raised eyebrows after he told a female contestant he would ‘smash the living daylights out of’ her pudding.
Sous-chef Chiara made a barley and fermented koji rice pudding with a blackcurrant compote, apple marigold oil and a blackcurrant leaf yogurt ice cream.
After tasting the yogurt she made, Gregg said: ‘I really like the flavours, it’s slightly oaty, slightly nutty, slightly sweet.
Gregg Wallace made a shocking remark to a female contestant on last week’s episode of MasterChef
On last week’s MasterChef, Gregg raised eyebrows after he told a female contestant he would ‘ smash the living daylights out of’ her pudding
‘Oh, I’ll smash the living daylights out of that yogurt ice cream. It’s got sourness, slight bit of sweetness, and it’s almost got a blackcurrant apple finish. It’s really quite delightful.’
Gregg is currently being investigated by BBC chiefs over a series of allegations which were made against the former greengrocer, accusing him of in appropriate sexual behaviour.
The TV chef allegedly wandered into the MasterChef studio ‘completely naked’ apart from a ‘sock pulled over his penis’ before throwing himself into a ‘silly dance’, a report claims.
Gregg is also accused mimicking a sex act in front of a member of the show’s production staff who was kneeling down to clean his trousers during filming, according to the lurid and so-far unsubstantiated allegations.
The Daily Telegraph says it has spoken to a witness who claims to have seen both these alleged incidents. Gregg was also ‘very touchy feely’, the newspaper quotes the witness as saying.
The grocer turned presenter is also accused of making ‘disgusting sex-related jokes’, including one about an ‘aunt’ while tasting a contestant’s dish during the show.
Gregg has also been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’ and talking about his sex life to others.
On one occasion he allegedly told a junior female colleague he wasn’t wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans.
He said: ‘Oh, I’ll smash the living daylights out of that yogurt ice cream. It’s got sourness, slight bit of sweetness, and it’s almost got a blackcurrant apple finish. It’s really quite delightful’
The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022.
Kirsty claims that on two occasions Gregg told stories and jokes of a ‘sexualised nature’ in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She said his gags and comments were ‘really, really in the wrong place’.
‘There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn’t as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic. But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen’, she said.
Gregg is currently being investigated by BBC chiefs over a series of allegations which were made against the former greengrocer, accusing him of in appropriate sexual behaviour
On Thursday, Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir shared a picture of herself during the 2017 Celebrity MasterChef series with the cryptic message: ‘Always keep your receipts’. It is not yet known if she has also complained.
The BBC claims that Gregg walked away from MasterChef today after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply.
They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024.
Gregg is ‘committed to fully cooperating throughout the process’, the show’s production company Banijay UK said.
Gregg will be on BBC One as usual on Thursday night because MasterChef: The Professionals, which is already recorded, will transmit as planned and into December. MasterChef’s Christmas specials will also still be broadcast.
The chef is yet to comment today – but at the time of the announcement this afternoon he did take to Instagram to share his recipe for prawn tacos with pineapple salsa.
But in October Gregg vehemently denied that he had made inappropriate sexual comments towards women, declaring that he would never ‘flirt with’ or ‘hit on’ another woman and saying: ‘I didn’t say anything sexual’.
BBC News said it had been told of other allegations, including the presenter ‘talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to ‘give her a fashion show’, and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans’.
Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations.
In a statement to the PA news agency Banijay UK said: ‘This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows.
‘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.
The BBC has revealed that 13 people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about his conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022 (Gregg pictured with his co-presenter John Torode, right)
‘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.
‘Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
‘Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.’
The statement added: ‘If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact [email protected] in confidence.’
The BBC has said it takes any issues that are raised with it ‘seriously’.
