An investigation into allegations of MasterChef ex-host Gregg Wallace’s misconduct has found that a total of 45 of 83 allegations against him during his time on the show have been substantiated. This included one allegation of ‘unwelcome physical contact’.

This comes after reports were made that restaurant critic and columnist Grace Dent was set to replace Wallace on MasterChef, after having stepped in as guest judge while the BBC investigated allegations made against the host. This has not been confirmed yet.

The report found that the ‘majority of the allegations against Wallace (94%) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018’, only one allegation was substantiated after 2018.

It also found that the ‘majority of the substantiated allegations against Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour’, and 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.

After the review’s findings – which was conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin – were announced, and his removal from MasterChef was confirmed, Wallace released a statement to the PA news agency.

The report described Wallace as ‘cooperative and forthcoming’ and was interviewed three times by the investigations team, for a total of 14 hours. But MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK said that ‘Wallace’s return to MasterChef (is) untenable’ due to the number of sustained allegations.

‘For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud,’ he said. ‘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.

‘I’m relieved that the report fully recognises that my behaviour changed profoundly in 2018. Some of my humour and language missed the mark. I never set out to harm or humiliate. I always tried to bring warmth and support to MasterChef, on screen and off.

‘After nearly 20 years on the show, I now see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I’ve only recently begun to understand, may have been misread. I also accept that more could have been done, by others and by myself, to address concerns earlier.

Wallace added that a ‘late autism diagnosis’ helped him to ‘ understand how I communicate and how I’m perceived. 

‘I’m still learning,’ he wrote, crediting Banijay for giving him ‘great support, and I thank them’. He referred to his treatment by the BBC as leaving him ‘exposed to trial by media and the damage it leaves in its wake’.

‘To those who’ve shown kindness, thank you. It mattered. This has been brutal. For a working-class man with a direct manner, modern broadcasting has become a dangerous place. I was the headline this time. But I won’t be the last.

‘There will be more casualties if the BBC continues down this path, where protecting its legacy matters more than protecting people. For my part, with full legal support, I will consider my next move.’

It has also emerged that Wallace’s co-presenter John Torode has received an allegation of using racist language. Reports say that Torode was asked by the BBC to ‘resign and blame his mental health’ after his alleged behaviour was included in the investigation into the Wallace allegations.

Torode took to Instagram to address rumours that he was the subject of the racist language allegation, confirming that he indeed was the individual ‘who is alleged to have used racist language on one occasion’ for the ‘sake of transparency’ after speculation.

‘The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards,’ he said.

‘I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.’

The BBC has issued a statement apologising to those affected by Wallace’s behaviour.

‘Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner,’  it reads.

‘Lewis Silkin’s findings include two further allegations which were upheld, relating to other individuals. The BBC takes these findings very seriously and we have asked Banijay UK to take action to address these issues, which is underway. This will be completed as a priority.’

The BBC are also still in conversations when it comes to whether the latest, as-yet-unreleased season of Masterchef, featuring both Wallace and Torode, will air.

‘We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part, and at the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants,’ the BBC has said in a statement regarding their deliberations.