Gregg Wallace has given his first interview after he was sacked by the BBC earlier this month.
The MasterChef judge was first hit with misconduct allegations last autumn, which resulted in him stepping back from the cooking programme with Grace Dent replacing him to record the final episodes.
The 60-year-old was then officially sacked after the bombshell Silkins review, commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK, upheld 45 allegations against him, including a case of ‘unwelcome physical contact’.
The TV presenter and former greengrocer was followed out the door by his MasterChef co-presenter John Torode, after the report included an accusation that he had used racist language.
Wallace has now addressed the accusations against him, including one that he walked around the show’s set naked with a sock on his penis.
In an interview with The Sun, Wallace stressed he was not a flasher, as he recounted his account of the incident, which he said happened in the studio after filming had finished.
He told the publication there were no contestants in the studio, adding that it was outside his dressing room door with four friends, including Monica Galetti.
He said: ‘I was getting changed to go to a black-tie event, a charity event. I put my bow tie on and my shirt. It’s only them outside the door.
‘I put the sock on, opened the door, went, “Wahey!” and shut the door again. The people interviewed were either amused or bemused. Nobody was distressed.’
He continued: ‘I’m not a groper. People think I’ve been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher.’
Wallace went on to say he’s learned ‘a lot’ about himself since he was first suspended from the BBC last autumn, adding that he is still learning.
A timeline of allegations against Gregg Wallace
2005 to 2011
A report by law firm Lewis Silkin found there were 27 substantiated claims against Wallace relating to alleged incidents during this period, most of which related to sexually explicit comments.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact during this timeframe was also substantiated.
The report found that when concerns were reported to the production company during this period, there was a failure to retain records of any action taken.
2012 to 2018
The report found that 17 upheld allegations relate to this period.
In 2015, the production company behind MasterChef investigated an allegation about Wallace’s behaviour, but he was not made aware of the complaint.
The following year, the production company merged with Endemol, and more formal policies, regular training, and anonymous reporting lines were introduced.
The BBC intervened in response to a complaint in 2017, following which Wallace was warned of the need to change his behaviour.
2019 to 2024
One substantiated complaint about an inappropriate comment fell into this period.
November 2024
Wallace faced allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across a range of shows over 17 years, BBC News reported.
The TV star stepped away from presenting MasterChef while Banijay, the show’s production company, announced that it was conducting an external review to ‘fully and impartially investigate’ the claims.
BBC News said allegations include the presenter ‘talking openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to “give her a fashion show”, and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans’.
The charity Ambitious About Autism said it had dropped Wallace as an ambassador, citing the ‘recent allegations’.
Banijay UK confirmed it appointed law firm Lewis Silkin to lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged behaviour.
December 2024
Wallace said in a video posted to Instagram that accusations about him making sexual comments towards staff and guests have come from ‘middle-class women of a certain age’.
Downing Street said Wallace’s response to the accusations being made against him was ‘inappropriate and misogynistic’.
A spokesperson added that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had held talks with BBC bosses in the wake of the Wallace row.
Following the backlash, Wallace apologised for any ‘offence’ or ‘upset’ he caused with his remarks and said he would ‘take some time out’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said politicians should be ready to put in place ‘mechanisms’ that would instil ‘confidence’ that women will be taken seriously in reports of inappropriate behaviour after a Labour MP asked him about ‘women of a certain age’, reflecting comments Wallace apologised for.
MasterChef co-presenter John Torode said in a social media post that he ‘loves being part of’ the programme and ‘will continue to be a part of it’.
April 2025
Wallace told the Daily Mail he ‘thought about suicide all the time’ after allegations of misconduct were made against him.
July 8-9, 2025
Wallace was sacked as MasterChef presenter following the inquiry into his alleged misconduct by production company Banijay.
BBC News said it had not seen the final review from Banijay but understood the presenter had been sacked.
In an Instagram post, the former greengrocer claimed he had been cleared of the ‘most serious and sensational accusations’ ahead of the published review.
He also said he recognised that some of his humour and language were inappropriate ‘at times’ and apologised for this.
July 14, 2025
The report by law firm Lewis Silkin for Banijay is published.
It says that a total of 45 out of the 83 allegations made against Wallace during his time on the show were substantiated, including one allegation of ‘unwelcome physical contact’.
It concludes 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’.
In the wake of the report’s findings, Banijay say that ‘Wallace’s return to MasterChef (is) untenable’.
He added that he understands he said things that caused offence and that those on the receiving end were perhaps ‘too intimidated or nervous’ to report the incidents at the time.
Wallace went on to apologise to those he had hurt, saying he ‘doesn’t expect sympathy’.
Wallace went on to say that he had unfollowed Torode and his wife Lisa Faulkner on social media, adding that the MasterChef co-presenters ‘never got on that well’.
It comes after a report that Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt, 51, is set to take one of the two vacant slots presenting the flagship BBC cooking show.
It is said he will be joined by fellow BBC chef Andi Oliver, 62, who currently presents Great British Menu.
MasterChef airs on the BBC and iPlayer.
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