Love Island star Luca Bish left ‘gutted’ after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace’s sexual misconduct allegations

Love Island star Luca Bish left 'gutted' after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct allegations

As a seasoned observer and critic of the entertainment industry, I must say that the recent events surrounding Gregg Wallace have left me both disheartened and amused. Having spent much of my life navigating the complexities of this business, I’ve seen it all – from the glorious triumphs to the devastating downfalls.

Luca Bish declared ‘Christmas is cancelled’ after the BBC pulled the plug on the 2024 MasterChef Christmas specials amid ongoing sexual misconduct allegations concerning Gregg Wallace. 

Last week, the MasterChef judge and chef, aged 60, declared that he would be taking a step back from hosting the show temporarily, as an examination into accusations of his inappropriate behavior unfolds.

13 individuals, among them Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, have levied charges against him for inappropriate and sexually suggestive conduct during production, and he has faced accusations of reportedly entering a set unclothed, wearing nothing but a sock over his private parts.

Three different women working in production have also accused Gregg of groping them on set.

Before the premiere of Luca’s Christmas Special, the previous Love Island celebrity, aged 23, feels disappointed that the BBC has canceled the scheduled two episodes.

He posted on Instagram, saying, “Christmas celebrations are postponed. Disappointed that our Christmas special has been delayed, but I look forward to being back on your screens shortly 🕒

Love Island star Luca Bish left 'gutted' after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct allegations

Love Island star Luca Bish left 'gutted' after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct allegations

The inaugural episode showcased notable personalities such as Max George from the band The Wanted, actress Amy Walsh known for her role in Emmerdale, reality television personality Luca, and stand-up comedian Shazia Mirza.

As a dedicated follower, I eagerly anticipated the second event, titled “MasterChef Meets Strictly Festive Extravaganza.” This unique gathering was scheduled to bring together Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez, Kai Widdrington, and Nancy Xu from Strictly Come Dancing. Motsi Mabuse would be setting a challenge for us all.

It’s clear that the celebrities concerned are being discussed regarding the causes for the shift in scheduling, while it’s important to note that iPlayer content remains unaffected by these changes.

Previously, the BBC had announced it would keep broadcasting all episodes of MasterChef that were filmed. However, Tuesday’s statement seems to indicate a significant change in direction, suggesting a potential reversal of this decision.

However, the corporation argued that the celebrity Christmas specials were distinctly unique programs, which they used to explain their choice to cancel them.

As a diehard fan, I can’t help but express my thoughts about the recent turn of events with MasterChef: The Professionals. Despite the tempest swirling around our beloved co-host Gregg, the BBC chose to air the semi-finals. I’m left wondering if the passion for great food and culinary excellence has been overshadowed by the gale of controversy.

Originally a greengrocer, Gregg temporarily withdrew from MasterChef at the BBC due to ongoing investigations into accusations of misconduct. However, his legal team asserts that the claims of sexual harassment against him are completely false.

However, another setback for Gregg occurred as Channel 5 took down Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends Away from their streaming service, My5, following accusations of inappropriate behavior towards the show’s cast during filming.

Love Island star Luca Bish left 'gutted' after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct allegations
Love Island star Luca Bish left 'gutted' after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct allegations
Love Island star Luca Bish left 'gutted' after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct allegations
Love Island star Luca Bish left 'gutted' after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct allegations

5 Channel has decided not to air the scheduled re-runs of Gregg Wallace’s Copenhagen Christmas Market and Gregg Wallace’s Lapland Christmas Adventure during their holiday programming.

It has been reported that some employees have made claims concerning Gregg Wallace’s conduct while hosting Channel 5’s “Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends,” during an examination by BBC News. The production company, Rumpus Media, confirmed they are looking into accusations of inappropriate behavior.

In 2019, during the production of Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends, a woman mentioned that he showed great interest in her romantic connections with other women, expressing curiosity about the practicalities and details of her intimate relationships.

On the Channel 5 program simultaneously, it was noted that Wallace frequently discussed topics related to sex, such as spanking and dominance in his conversations with another woman.

In simpler terms, another female colleague from the show, referred to as Amanda by BBC News, claimed that Gregg exhibited images of a woman in her lingerie during their ride in a vehicle.

Additionally, she remembered an incident where he reportedly removed his shirt and proposed a makeshift fashion show in his hotel room, in her presence and that of a fellow coworker, following the end of filming for the day.

Upon my colleague departing, I found myself expressing to BBC News, ‘It feels quite unusual to find oneself in a solitary space with an individual who is not fully clothed.’

A coworker from the Channel 5 travel show alleged that he showed disrespect towards women.

Love Island star Luca Bish left 'gutted' after BBC pulled the plug on MasterChef Christmas Special amid Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct allegations

She told The I: ‘I remember him being really unbelievably rude and obnoxious through the entire shoot. He was extremely rude and misogynistic… He would dismiss directions from the female producers.’

Channel 5 strongly regards these accusations as significant, and the production company Rumpus is currently investigating the allegations. In turn, Rumpus has stated that they have a strict policy against any form of inappropriate behavior during their productions.

After Gregg posted an angry outburst on Instagram over the weekend, there’s been continued controversy surrounding his claims that the accusations against him were primarily made by a group of older women from the middle class.

On Monday, Gregg expressed regret for any distress or discomfort his weekend statement may have caused, stating: “I wasn’t in a good frame of mind when I shared it. I’ve been dealing with an immense amount of pressure, a lot of intense feelings, and I felt extremely isolated and under attack the day I posted it.

He stated: ‘It’s clear to me that I should step aside for a while during the ongoing investigation. I trust you can comprehend, and I offer my sincere apologies.’

His apology followed a strong public reaction, as Downing Street deemed his reaction to the allegations as “unacceptable and sexist.

Others have branded the video a ‘classic’ non-apology.

In a recent turn of events, the presenter expressed regret following his inflammatory social media remarks that sparked yet another public relations predicament. He attributed his mistake to an overwhelming load of stress and strong emotions.

The U-turn came hours after an insider told TopMob he had ‘gone rogue’ and was ignoring ‘all advice’ about how to salvage his TV career following the scandal.

Gregg expressed his regret for any offense taken from his post the day before and any distress he might have caused to many people.

TV psychologist Jo Hemmings posed this question: “Under what circumstances does an apology fail to be a genuine apology? An example might be Gregg Wallace seemingly apologizing for misogyny to save his career, yet expressing no remorse about his prolonged inappropriate actions.

According to a representative from the BBC, just as previously stated, MasterChef represents an extraordinary contest that significantly impacts the chefs involved. At present, the ongoing season of MasterChef: The Professionals proceeds as scheduled.

In these unique times, we’ve chosen not to air the special holiday shows featuring celebrities, as they present a distinctly different format compared to our usual programming.

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2024-12-04 12:06

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