MasterChef presenter John Torode is claimed to have repeatedly raised concerns about co-host Gregg Wallace’s behaviour to production executives, but no formal action was taken, sources have claimed.
The Australian chef is said to have flagged Wallace’s conduct multiple times to officials at Banijay UK, the company that produces the BBC cooking show.
While Torode made his concerns known about Wallace’s on-set behaviour, it is claimed these were never escalated to formal complaints.
“John is not stupid — of course, he was aware of some of Gregg’s less savoury behaviour. He did not condone it, and nor did he engage with it,” a source told The Sun.
The insider added: “He repeatedly flagged his behaviour and poor-taste remarks to execs on set and made clear he wasn’t happy. It was never a formal complaint, rather a series of spoken concerns raised.”
Torode is understood to have been particularly unhappy with some of the language Wallace used while filming.
The star is alleged to have spoken to execs about Wallace’s behaviour
BBC
According to sources, Torode was unsure whether any formal records were made of his concerns about Wallace’s conduct.
“He does not know whether any formal record was ever made but the sense he got was that bosses needed to protect the MasterChef brand at all costs and that meant turning a blind eye,” the source told The Sun.
The allegations claim that senior executives at Banijay UK prioritised the show’s reputation over addressing the reported behavioural issues.
Wallace, 60, stepped down from MasterChef amid an investigation into allegations of misconduct from 13 people across five shows between 2005 and 2022.
Gregg Wallace claimed the allegations came from ‘middle-class women’
Breaking his silence, Torode said: “The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear and I have found the recent Press reports truly upsetting.”
He added that he fully supports the ongoing investigation but cannot comment further at this stage.
Wallace’s lawyers have strongly denied he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.
Sources claim Torode and his wife Lisa Faulkner are “mortified” by the fallout surrounding the programme.
The couple are reportedly considering hiring a designated PR expert to help them navigate the scandal.
Torode and Wallace’s relationship has been tumultuous behind the scenes of their 19-year tenure on MasterChef, despite Torode serving as Wallace’s best man at his fourth wedding in 2016.
The pair are said to be hiring a PR team
PA
The BBC has scrapped two scheduled Christmas specials of the cookery show featuring Wallace.
Wallace recently issued an apology after he remarked that the women who had made complaints about him were of “middle class” – causing outrage.
