Top TV chef ‘pulls forward’ in race to interchange Gregg Wallace on GraspChef after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards BBC star
A top TV Chef has emerged as the favourite to replace Gregg Wallace on MasterChef, after allegations about the TV presenter forced him to quit the show.
The 60-year-old’s future on the show is all but certainly over following allegations of misconduct, which are being reviewed externally.
Wallace last week faced accusations of inappropriate behaviour from 13 people, including Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, over a 17-year period across five shows from 2005 to 2022.
The latest allegations include one woman who said Wallace groped her, another who claims he pressed his crotch against her while filming BBC show Eat Well For Less and a third who alleged he flashed her in his dressing room.
And now, fellow TV Chef James Martin has pulled ahead as the favourite to replace Wallace.
The 52-year-old first appeared on screens back in 1999 and hosted Saturday Kitchen for ten years from 2006.
However, Martin himself faced his own allegations of bullying back in 2023.
He swore 42 times as he launched a foul-mouthed rant at his TV crew in 2018 shortly after his shock cancer diagnosis, with an extraordinary recording of the moment leaked online.
James Martin has emerged as the favourite to replace Gregg Wallace as presenter of MasterChef
Gregg Wallace has quit the show over allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour
James Martin presented Saturday Kitchen Live on the BBC for ten years
Afterwards, The Daily Mail exclusively revealed he could face being axed by ITV after senior bosses were left furious at his behaviour.
However, his continued to host his morning show and survived the scandal and is now in pole position to join John Torode on MasterChef.
The BBC may look closer to home for Torode’s new partner, with his wife Lisa Faulkner the second favourite at 3/1.
The actress, 52, won Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 and has hosted ‘John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen’ on ITV since 2019.
Other names include well known TV chef Nigella Lawson at 4/1, who is currently part of the judging panel on the Australian version of MasterChef.
Other names include restaurant critic Grace Dent, well-loved chef Gino D’Acampo, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing.
Galetti has faced her own criticism from fans after she made a suggestive remark to a contestant on the show’s most recent episode.
She told chef Gaston Savina, who is openly gay, ‘Plug up your butter-hole,’ which she followed up with a very naughty giggle and appeared to set off members of the crew.
Gregg Wallace is facing claims from at least 13 women who have accused him of inappropriate behaviour
John Torode’s wife Lisa Faulkner is second-favourite to replace Wallace and join her husband on the show
Gaston took the joke in good spirits and as the cameras cut back to Monica who was still in a fit of giggles, he said: ‘Why is it always with me these things happen? Story of my life.’
Fans took to social media after the comment to accuse the show of ‘double standards’ over comments made by Gregg Wallace.
Another surprising name on the list is Gordon Ramsay, who is known around the world for his hot-headed nature and loud rants on his shows.
Ramsay has been a judge on MasterChef USA and appeared on the Australian version of the show and could make a switch to the UK version of the franchise.
Banijay UK, the production company that makes MasterChef, said Wallace was ‘committed to fully co-operating throughout the process’.
‘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 company said.
‘While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating 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.’
