Dame Prue Leith: ‘Stupid’ BBC ought to have stored Gregg Wallace in test – as she says he in all probability ‘has no thought what he is carried out flawed’
Dame Prue Leith has blasted ‘stupid’ TV producers for failing to keep celebrities such as Gregg Wallace under control.
But the broadcaster, author and restaurateur insisted the MasterChef host should not be ‘cancelled or sacked’ over claims of sexually inappropriate behaviour.
The Great British Bake Off host, 84, said Wallace did not appear to have broken the law and probably ‘has no idea what he’s done wrong’.
Amid claims that he will blame undiagnosed autism for his behaviour backstage at the BBC, Dame Prue said Wallace, 60, was ‘too insensitive’ to understand how offensive he has been.
Thirteen people, including broadcaster Kirsty Wark, have publicly complained about Wallace in the past two weeks, claiming he told sexualised jokes and openly bragged about his sex life.
It has also been claimed that he groped women, flashed at them and pressed his crotch against colleagues in his dressing room.
Wallace stepped down from the show last week while claims against him are investigated.
Speaking to Times Radio, Dame Prue said producers should be firm with presenters because ‘there’s no such thing as an irreplaceable talent’. ‘It’s really stupid for the talent to become arrogant and think they’re too good to sack, because nobody’s too good to sack,’ she said.
Dame Prue Leith has blasted the BBC for not keeping Gregg Wallace in check, while insisting the MasterChef host should not be sacked over claims of inappropriate conduct
Dame Prue said Wallace, 60, was ‘too insensitive’ to understand how offensive he has been
‘It’s also very stupid of producers to think they can’t replace them. They’re very weak. They can replace Gregg Wallace, they can replace anybody.
‘They should be tough with their presenters and be very clear about whatever the rules are.’
But she warned against regulating shows too strictly, saying it would be ‘silly’ if presenters were forced to stick to a script, which would lead to ‘very boring’ TV.
Wallace attracted further criticism last week for saying on social media that the claims against him had come from ‘a handful of middle-class women of a certain age’.
The comment went viral online, and internet sellers quickly offered clothing bearing the slogan ‘Middle-Class Woman of a Certain Age’.
Dame Prue said Wallace should avoid social media because ‘he’s just digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole.’
Wallace’s co-host John Torode said he found the claims against his colleague ‘truly upsetting’
She added: ‘He’s too insensitive to understand how offensive it is. But that’s his problem, that he’s insensitive. He hasn’t, that I can see, disobeyed the law.
‘I don’t believe people should be cancelled or sacked. I can see why you would ask someone to step aside while they investigate things. But I bet you Gregg has no idea what he’s done wrong.’
She said he should not be sacked until the claims against him have been investigated, adding: ‘I don’t know what his crime is.’ The BBC has axed its MasterChef Christmas specials and is under pressure to halt the main series.
His co-presenter, John Torode, said he found the claims against Wallace ‘truly upsetting’ and that the ‘thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful’.
