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Revealed: BBC bosses’ desperate bid to protect second star tarnished by Gregg Wallace scandal as they battle to save MasterChef from total cancellation

BBG News

Tim Davie might well feel like relaxing during the summer break, yet it’s likely that his nights have been restless lately due to the succession of scandals he’s had to deal with.

Indeed, the BBC director general has faced quite a challenging year, navigating through Huw Edwards’s downfall, numerous Strictly controversies, Jermaine Jenas’s sexting incident on The One Show, a disastrous Glastonbury performance by Bob Vylan, and now the added complexity of Gregg Wallace.

According to a source, things have been a continuous series of issues for the BBC. One male star after another has failed the organization, as they’ve consistently found themselves in trouble and tarnished its reputation.

The events involving Huw Edwards (a former respected BBC news anchor, convicted for creating inappropriate child images) have left a lasting impact on Tim. His goal is to demonstrate that the BBC has learned from its past errors and to root out individuals who believe themselves to be immune to consequences. He carries this determination strongly.

As a devoted admirer putting words to my thoughts, let me share an insight: It’s clear why Claire Powell, the strict compliance chief at BBC Television, penned such stern letters to Gregg Wallace. After reviewing the report prepared by MasterChef producers Banijay, she felt compelled to express her firm stance. In no-nonsense terms, she made it clear that his past, which includes accusations of inappropriate behavior, from using suggestive language to unwanted touching – allegations he firmly refutes – had sealed his fate and left no room for a comeback.

She expressed concern: “I’m not certain that you can alter behavior that appears to be ingrained, particularly making jokes at work, without fully grasping the limits of what’s acceptable.

‘I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change.’

The previous fruit vendor chose a bold approach before the release of the report, posting a strongly worded message on Instagram. In this statement, he asserted that he had been exonerated from the gravest accusations and cautioned the company: “I won’t exit peacefully. I refuse to be silenced for convenience.

Some have shown understanding towards Wallace while raising a questioning gaze at the harshness and quickness of the BBC’s suspension, with one source hinting that there could be hidden reasons behind it.

They mentioned that it’s more advantageous for them to handle Gregg firmly and swiftly, allowing them to shift focus away from John Torode, who is Gregg’s co-presenter, since this action reduces the level of attention on him.

For two decades, John stood by Gregg’s side. Although he might not have been there during the gravest accusations, it’s undeniable that the question arises: “What was John aware of?

Why didn’t John intervene when Gregg was telling those crude, sexually suggestive jokes on the MasterChef stage?

Despite Torode’s relative silence since November, when 13 individuals first voiced complaints about Wallace, he is considered crucial for the show’s future prospects.

In a more casual and straightforward manner, one could say: He, alongside his actress wife Lisa Faulkner, whom they crossed paths with on Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 (where she was a contestant and he served as a judge), are considered the ‘shining pair’ of the culinary world. The corporation is doing everything they can to ensure his contentment remains.

His departure, in any capacity, would be a disaster for MasterChef, I’m told.

If John was to walk, ‘it would simply be the end of the programme’, one insider told me,

In my expert opinion, the downfall of Top Gear is a fascinating case study in the dynamics of a successful team. After the dismissal of Jeremy Clarkson for physical altercion with a production staff member in 2015 following a long day’s shoot, and the subsequent departures of James May and Richard Hammond, the show was rebooted with an entirely new cast. Unfortunately, this fresh start didn’t resonate with viewers as expected, leading to a disappointing outcome for all involved.

After disastrous ratings, the BBC finally axed the once popular show in 2022.

It’s no surprise that Banijay and the BBC are eager to preserve MasterChef, given its substantial profitability. This popular franchise generates vast sums from its merchandising line, which ranges from aprons and cutting boards to high-end knives featured on the show itself.

After Wallace withdrew from the culinary contest in November, food critic Grace Dent took over Wallace’s role as a judge, joining Torode for the Celebrity MasterChef season of 2025, scheduled to broadcast in the fall.

However, it appears that producers are hesitant to make Dent a long-term substitute for Wallace due to her perceived lack of warmth and engagement, according to sources. This uncertainty about her public appeal has only strengthened their determination to safeguard Torode.

In 2016, a 59-year-old Australian chef served as the best man at Wallace’s wedding to Anne-Marie Sterpini. However, it has been reported that they have not had any contact since Wallace stepped down from his position last year.

According to a source, John has distanced himself from Gregg and shows no interest in interacting with him anymore. This action has made Gregg extremely angry.

Last year, when the scandal initially emerged, Torode remained silent for several weeks. He explained that his silence was due to a heavy work schedule, particularly finishing the final episodes of the amateur version of MasterChef, during which Wallace had to temporarily step aside.

As the quiet grew overwhelming, he eventually emerged on Instagram to share: ‘Over the past few days, I’ve been focusing on creating the finest cooking program, which kept me engrossed in making the show and caring for our competitors. Consequently, my mind had little room to ponder anything else, but this has proven challenging.’

It’s disheartening to imagine that someone who’s been on our program didn’t enjoy it greatly. The latest news articles about this issue have really troubled me.

Eight months later, there was more upset for Torode, and for Tim Davie.

On Tuesday, the editorially independent BBC News broadcast a report detailing 50 new accusations against the TV presenter, among them claims that he inappropriately touched one employee during MasterChef filming and exposed himself to another. However, Wallace firmly denies all these allegations.

What made these recent accusations especially frustrating for the corporation was that they weren’t limited to dissatisfied employees from the show produced by an outside production company, but also extended to various BBC programs such as Saturday Kitchen, which happened to be internally produced during one of the instances when the allegations were raised.

For several months, the BBC has ignored requests for them to conduct an independent investigation concerning Wallace. Instead, they’ve been shifting responsibility onto Banijay.

According to a BBC insider, they stated that this situation is far more significant than what’s typically handled on MasterChef. The upper management believed addressing the issue with Gregg and releasing their findings promptly would expedite matters, but they must also address the recent allegations to avoid appearing dismissive.

It seems that high-ranking individuals within the company are reportedly deliberating on the best course of action following the recent accusations, as per my understanding.

They stated, “Everything seems to be pointing towards the BBC initiating a comprehensive investigation regarding Wallace.

Besides the headache, there are other challenges Davie is dealing with. In his sharp response to the BBC, Wallace mentions his autism diagnosis and alleges that they didn’t shield him from a potentially harmful setting for more than two decades.

In her termination notice, Powell acknowledges his neurodivergence and explains that he often finds it challenging to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable conduct.

Advocates for Wallace assert this is an evident instance of discrimination towards the presenter due to his recognized disability, and they plan on filing a lawsuit as a result.

The friend expressed his dismay, stating that the BBC appeared unprepared to handle someone with a disability effectively and seemingly abandoned the individual. He found this situation unacceptable.

Wallace shows no signs of jest: He’s brought on Dan Morrison, a renowned litigation attorney from the UK, who previously represented Nigel Farage during his banking disagreement with NatWest following the closure of his account at Coutts (which they own) in 2023. Notably, Morrison also successfully protected footballer John Terry when allegations of racially abusing a teammate were leveled against him in 2011.

On the profile of his law firm, it’s stated that Dan has successfully retrieved billions of pounds for his clients throughout a 25-year career in law. He is recognized for his assertive style in court and his knack for securing advantageous resolutions for his clients through negotiations.

My friend remarked, “Gregg will put all his strength into this battle. He has nothing left to lose.

However, the BBC is optimistic that they will prevail in this struggle. Wallace, on the other hand, received his initial reprimand following a grievance filed against him in 2018 during the program “Impossible Celebrities.” He subsequently expressed regret for any offense caused.

At a later gathering, it was made clear to him that his actions needed to be altered, and he received training. However, more issues arose regarding MasterChef, leading to a reprimand from Kate Phillips, who at the time was in charge of entertainment and is now the BBC’s top content officer.

She reportedly told Wallace his behaviour had been ‘unacceptable and cannot continue’.

The BBC may still be subjected to further legal actions, as they deliberate on how to handle the MasterChef series featuring Wallace that was filmed in autumn last year.

Banijay handed over the entire series to the BBC, but they were holding off on airing it until they received a review, after which they would decide if it was suitable for broadcast.

One confidant shared that the situation is extremely chaotic, stating, ‘They’ve made a firm move concerning Gregg, yet they’re uncertain about the following sequence of events.’

If managers abandon the entire project, they stand to lose millions, invest countless hours, and potentially confront former contestants, who spent their work time to film the series, with a lawsuit against the BBC.

Instead, the preferred choice was to air the new series on BBC iPlayer, giving viewers the freedom to watch at their convenience, fully aware that it would be presented by Wallace. However, the recent wave of complaints has added a layer of complexity to the situation.

Earlier this week, Wallace admitted that some of his jokes and words were not suitable on occasions, and he expressed a heartfelt apology without any hesitation.

According to a BBC representative, it was reported that Gregg Wallace’s accusations were being investigated by the law firm Lewis Silkin, as directed by Banijay UK.

‘We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.’

In December, Torode made clear his dedication to the show, expressing, “I truly enjoy my work, and I adore MasterChef. I appreciate being a part of it and will keep contributing to it.

With MasterChef on such shaky ground, the future doesn’t seem so certain.

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2025-07-12 18:34

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