Following recent controversies involving judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode, the BBC’s MasterChef has brought in professional consultants specializing in bullying prevention.
Gregg left the popular BBC cooking show in November 2024 following concerns about his conduct. John was fired earlier, in July, after being accused of making a racist remark.
Sources say the production company behind the show, Banijay, has brought in Tell Jane – experts in workplace bullying, harassment, and discrimination – for assistance.
According to the Mirror, Tell Jane will look into any reports of wrongdoing, and employees can use the anonymous ‘Speak Up!’ hotline to share concerns.
Newly released documents outline three changes to how the company handles employee support: the introduction of Safeguarding Representatives on film sets, Confidential Representatives for core staff, and a confidential Speak Up! hotline for reporting concerns.
Okay, so I’ve been digging into all the behind-the-scenes stuff, and it’s amazing! They *really* want everyone – the main team and everyone working on the shows – to feel safe and comfortable speaking up. Like, if anything’s bothering you, *anything at all*, they’ve made it so easy to reach out. You can talk to the bosses, HR, the safety people on set, confidential contacts within the company, or even use this anonymous hotline they have. It’s all in the official documents they just filed – they’re seriously committed to making sure everyone’s voice is heard, and honestly, it makes me love them even more!
To support our existing internal reporting system, we’ve partnered with Tell Jane, an independent third-party service, to provide a confidential way for people to raise concerns on all our shows – both unscripted and scripted.
A Banijay representative explained that Banijay UK offers several channels for employees and freelancers to report concerns during production. These include an internal, confidential reporting hotline, as well as external support services like Tell Jane.
The Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for a comment.
Food critic Grace Dent and chef Anna Haugh will replace Gregg and John for the next series.
Gregg has reportedly filed a lawsuit with the High Court in London and has stated he intends to fight the case vigorously.
The television host is requesting the release of confidential documents – hundreds of pages worth – hoping they will restore his reputation and allow him to recover millions of dollars in lost income.
Some believe this legal action could allow Gregg to file a substantial disability claim against the BBC, potentially worth millions of pounds.
According to a source, the situation could escalate dramatically. Apparently, Gregg had requested access to documents related to him, but the BBC denied his request.
Okay, so things have really escalated. He’s had to involve lawyers now, and honestly, it’s a big deal. This isn’t just a little disagreement; it’s the first real sign that Gregg is prepared to take this very seriously and pursue all available options. As someone who watches these situations unfold, I can tell you this is a clear indicator that things are about to get much more formal and potentially intense.
Gregg’s team thinks reviewing the emails will help them understand their legal options and what to do next. Meanwhile, the BBC is worried this could lead to a serious human resources problem.
I’ve heard that Gregg is actually getting ready to file for disability. Apparently, he’s planning to center the claim around his autism – he received a diagnosis back in January, and it seems like that’s what he’ll be focusing on to support his application.
He stated that his potential neurodiversity wasn’t explored or considered during his time on MasterChef.
He shared in a statement that colleagues had long suspected, and now formally diagnosed, his autism during his time on MasterChef.
For over twenty years, no one looked into my disability or shielded me from a harmful situation. Now, it seems like that oversight is being deliberately overlooked and forgotten.
A BBC representative said they haven’t received any official legal notices, and therefore can’t provide a statement at this time.
The Daily Mail has also contacted representatives of Gregg Wallace for comment.
This follows an admission from BBC Director-General Tim Davie that further issues could emerge, after he was questioned about preventing another incident of BBC personalities misusing their power.
Chef John, who was born in Australia, was fired from the show after twenty years due to claims he used a racial slur.
I’m absolutely gutted! It’s come out that Gregg had to leave the show because of complaints about how he acted. Apparently, they investigated everything and found 45 out of 83 complaints were actually valid. It’s so upsetting – 41 people actually had to complain for something to happen! I just can’t believe it, it feels like the end of an era.
The review found that most of the confirmed complaints against Wallace involved inappropriate jokes and talk of a sexual nature.
The investigation also confirmed a few other issues: some reports of inappropriate language and someone being inappropriately dressed were found to be true, along with one instance of unwanted physical touch.
The former host of Eat Well for Less? told The Sun that although he admitted to some of the accusations, he felt they weren’t fully accurate or had been misunderstood.
Gregg estimates he’s collaborated with about 4,000 people, and only a very small fraction – just half a percent – have ever had a negative comment about his work.
He explained his behavior stemmed from things he’d learned over time and the environment at work, and also mentioned that a recent autism diagnosis helped him understand his actions.
He acknowledged he’s different and often has trouble understanding what others are thinking or feeling, which leads people to see him as unusual. He explained that autism is a recognized disability.
Gregg has stated that he believes the BBC didn’t adequately support him with his health issues during his two decades on MasterChef.
He explained that colleagues had long suspected he was neurodivergent, and he now has a formal diagnosis of autism. This was a topic of conversation among them throughout his time on MasterChef.
For over twenty years, no one looked into my disability or took steps to keep me safe from a situation that I now understand was harmful.
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2025-09-21 11:49