The BBC has been warned about alleged inappropriate behavior by Gregg Wallace, as claimed by director and producer Dawn Elrick in 2022. She sent a letter to the corporation with anonymous accounts from individuals who reported experiencing sexism in the TV industry. The emergence of this letter coincided with a report in The Times that the BBC had received a complaint regarding comments made by Wallace in 2017.
The complaint was reportedly sent by broadcaster Aasmah Mir after appearing on the 12th series of Celebrity Masterchef. As a result, Wallace announced that he would step away from the show while historical misconduct complaints were externally reviewed by MasterChef producers Banijay UK.
The allegations against Wallace include inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across various shows over a 17-year period. Despite these claims, Wallace’s lawyers deny any engagement in sexually harassing behavior. In the letter sent by Elrick to the BBC, she highlighted a pattern of behavior by Wallace, including lewd comments, asking for personal phone numbers from female production staff, and making staff feel uncomfortable.
Elrick expressed concern about the power dynamics that allow high-profile talent to make inappropriate remarks to production staff. The letter was not an official complaint, but rather a collection of reported experiences that prompted Elrick to raise the issue to the BBC. The BBC responded by indicating that individual complaints would need to be made directly to the corporation.
Separately, Mir had also complained about Wallace’s comments during the filming of the show’s 12th series in 2017. In an email forwarded to Kate Phillips, who manages unscripted programs for the BBC, Mir emphasized the importance of addressing such behavior to prevent future incidents.
In internal emails, Phillips assured that she would be informed immediately of any further complaints against Wallace. The BBC spokesperson stated that they take all issues seriously and have processes in place to address them. They emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for behavior that falls below expected standards.
Wallace, in response to the allegations, posted a cryptic message on Instagram about diversity. Banijay UK stated that Wallace would step away from his role on MasterChef during the review process and would cooperate fully. They reiterated their commitment to investigating and addressing any incidents where expectations are not met.
Overall, the allegations against Gregg Wallace have raised concerns about workplace behavior and power dynamics in the TV industry. It is essential for organizations to take such complaints seriously and ensure a safe and respectful work environment for all employees.
