Wallace report substantiates 45 allegations

FORMER MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace said he was "deeply sorry" for the distress his behaviour caused and said he "never set out to harm or humiliate" after an external report published yesterday found 45 out of 83 allegations made against him during his time on the show were substantiated including one allegation of "unwelcome physical contact".

- KERRI-ANN ROPER

In November 2024 the show's production company, Banijay UK, announced that Wallace would step away from MasterChef while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. The report, led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found the "majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94%) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018", with only one allegation substantiated after 2018.

It said that the “majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour”, adding that “a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated”, with “one incident of unwelcome physical contact” also substantiated.

In a statement yesterday, Wallace said: “For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. None of the serious allegations against me were upheld. I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended.”