December 10th 2024.
Viewers of MasterChef are questioning the recent absence of presenter Gregg Wallace from a BBC episode. This comes amidst an ongoing investigation into his alleged behavior. The 60-year-old has taken a step back from the show following multiple accusations, including from Ulrika Jonsson and Kirsty Wark.
According to the allegations, Wallace has been making inappropriate sexual jokes and lewd comments on set, asking for the phone numbers of female production staff, and even undressing and standing too close to women working on his shows. It has also been claimed that he groped three people in separate incidents and mimicked sexual acts. Over a span of 17 years and across various shows, more than 13 people have come forward with complaints against him. In addition, it has been reported that he sexually harassed his ghost-writer with thigh rubs.
Wallace and his lawyers have strongly denied these allegations, stating that it is entirely false that he engages in any kind of sexually harassing behavior. In light of the investigation, the BBC has decided to shelve the MasterChef Christmas specials that were supposed to air this year. However, pre-recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals have been airing on weeknights at 8 pm as scheduled.
Fans have noticed that Wallace appears to have a reduced presence in these episodes. In the most recent one, he did not even appear in the opening, while his co-judges Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing discussed what they were looking for in the final four contestants. He also had limited screen time during the banquet scene, where the finalists served dishes to celebrity chefs like Tom Kerridge. However, he did make an appearance during the final judgement, standing alongside Monica and Marcus and encouraging the contestants.
Some viewers have speculated that Wallace may have been edited out of the episodes. Twitter user @tynemouth wrote, "Great editing for the banquet. Wallace completely sidelined. Well done." Others, like @Tilsit and @gorbalsgoebbels, have also noticed his reduced presence and questioned if he would still appear in the final firing.
However, it has been confirmed that no episodes have been edited. This comes after the announcement that the MasterChef Christmas specials will not be airing this year. According to a BBC spokesperson, the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals will continue as planned, as it is a competition that is life-changing for the participating chefs. The decision to cancel the Christmas specials was made due to the current circumstances.
It is unclear if the BBC will broadcast the next season of the main series, which has already finished filming and was set to air in the spring of 2025. After the first allegation against him, Wallace faced immense backlash, including from the Prime Minister, who described his comments as misogynistic. He later apologized, stating that he was under a lot of stress and emotion when he made those remarks. He also expressed his need to take some time off while the investigation is ongoing.
Wallace's co-star John Torode has also shared a statement, stating that he will not comment further on the allegations until the investigation is over. He expressed his love for his job and the show, and his disappointment at the thought of anyone having a negative experience on the show. He has been busy filming MasterChef overseas and has not had much time to think about anything else.
The allegations against Wallace and the ongoing investigation have caused a lot of upset and disappointment among fans. However, many have also expressed their support for the show and its contestants, and hope that the truth will come out soon. MasterChef: The Professionals is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing, calling, or visiting their Submit Stuff page.
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