The BBC decided to continue to show MasterChef: The Professionals following host Gregg Wallace being surrounded by controversy surrounding his alleged behaviour
Gregg Wallace appeared on screens amid his controversy with MasterChef viewers noticing an awkward moment.
The TV presenter stepped down from his role as presenter of the BBC show last week, but still appeared on Monday’s episode of MasterChef: The Professionals. During the show, the chefs were tasked with producing a dish from root to shoot. Contestant Gaston, who is from France, decided to cook a Greek dish.
Wallace spoke to Gaston as he prepared his dish, who told the presenter: “It is a sauce from Greece and I am using egg, lemon juice and dill.” The host asked: “Why all of a sudden have we crossed over from France to Greece?” Gaston responded: “Greece is the first country I had travelled to for work, I had lived there probably a year. Loved the food, loved the people.”
Wallace then asked: “How do I say goodbye in Greek?” Gaston told him: “Αντίο.” To which Wallace quipped: “Beautiful stuff.” Viewers at home noticed the awkwardness of Wallace asking how to say goodbye amid his exit from the show. One said: “He’s just asked how to say goodbye in Greek, classic.” Another added: “‘How do I say goodbye in Greek’ Definitely various forms of goodbye are going to come in useful.”
Despite the controversy surrounding Gregg Wallace after stepping back from MasterChef amid external reviews of misconduct allegations, the BBC assured viewers that tonight’s episode of MasterChef: The Professionals would go ahead as planned on BBC One. Embroiled in claims of making “inappropriate sexual jokes” amongst other behavioural complaints, Wallace’s lawyer stands firm: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.
Wallace appeared on the show following his exit (
Image:
BBC)
The BBC confirmed the episode on Monday night as they said: “The BBC has confirmed tonight’s episode of MasterChef will still be shown on BBC One.” Episode 16 out of 17 from the series, sees the eight remaining chefs try to secure their spots in the final six. Wallace expressed regret today for his remarks suggesting complaints about his conduct came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”.
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He’s decided to “take some time out” following the controversy. The MasterChef host, who is battling several allegations including making “inappropriate sexual jokes”, posted on Instagram this morning to say sorry. In the video, he said: “I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people.
“I wasn’t in a good headspace when I posted it, I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it. It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out, now while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology.”
Gregg Wallace returned to screens on Monday night (
Image:
BBC)
Following his initial comments over the weekend, there was a public uproar, with Downing Street condemning his reply to the claims as “inappropriate and misogynistic”. The 60-year-old is facing claims from 13 individuals over 17 years, spanning various shows, with the BBC releasing these details last Thursday.
Since then, numerous others have come forward with their accounts. Yet Wallace’s legal representatives affirm that “it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”. Last Thursday, it was announcemed that Wallace would be temporarily leaving the famous BBC cookery programme, as past complaints are examined by an external inquiry conducted by the production company Banijay UK.
In response to the allegations, Wallace posted on Instagram on Sunday: “I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age, just from Celebrity MasterChef. This isn’t right.” His statement sparked outrage, with former Celebrity MasterChef contestants Ulrika Jonsson, Kirstie Allsopp, and Emma Kennedy among those who condemned his response.
