Gregg Wallace has been banned from working on the BBC after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct. Claire Powell, head of compliance for BBC Tv, has made it clear in a letter of dismissal that Wallace, 60, is not going to work for the broadcaster after the company dominated that he was not protected to have within the office. Wallace, 60, was advised that executives didn’t “have the arrogance you can change what appears to be discovered behaviour”. The BBC stated they took into consideration his autism analysis when figuring out the judgement, however concluded that he “struggled to tell apart the boundaries between applicable and inappropriate behaviour within the office”.
Wallace was pressured to step down from MasterChef in November after various allegations had been made in opposition to him, together with inappropriate sexual behaviour comparable to groping and touching. The report into his behaviour, commissioned by Masterchef producers Banijay after the preliminary allegations had been made and carried out by Lewis Silkin, is but to be printed, however is believed to have cleared Wallace of essentially the most critical allegations of groping. The dismissal letter, obtained by the Telegraph, stated the BBC had taken into consideration that “you had been a presenter on a flagship BBC present” and famous “the affect that your feedback had on the BBC’s repute”.
The letter continued: “I’ve additionally taken into consideration whether or not your behaviour could possibly be improved with coaching and/or teaching. Nevertheless, having reviewed the 2025 findings, I do not need the arrogance you can change what appears to be discovered behaviour so that you can make what you understand to be jokes within the working atmosphere, with out understanding the boundaries of what’s applicable.
“I even have to contemplate the truth that numerous individuals within the BBC have spoken to you about your behaviour over the course of your profession, and that you just additionally already obtained coaching/teaching in 2019. I even have to contemplate the truth that numerous individuals within the BBC have spoken to you about your behaviour over the course of your profession, and that you just additionally already obtained coaching/teaching in 2019. I’ve additional taken into consideration the 2025 Findings as they relate to your well being and up to date autism analysis (as you will have publicly said).
“I’ve famous that you don’t think about sure environments to now be ‘protected’ for you. Along with the obligation of care in the direction of you, the BBC equally to take note of the security and obligation of care owed in the direction of contributors, members of the general public and colleagues on manufacturing groups that you could be interact with and the suitable use of licence charge payers’ cash in establishing a protected working atmosphere for all.
“The 2025 Findings mirror that you just acknowledge a few of your feedback have offended or upset individuals, however it’s clear that you just battle to tell apart the boundaries between applicable and inappropriate behaviour within the office, in addition to missing consciousness of why your behaviour impacts others.”
The letter added: “I do not need confidence that your behaviour can change to make sure there’s a sufficiently protected and respectful atmosphere for others working with you within the sorts of programmes the BBC has engaged you to current.
“Such productions should not closely scripted programmes and contain sound and constant ranges of judgment in relation to interactions with others which can not always be monitored or supervised.”
Wallace has apologised for among the claims about his use of inappropriate “humour and language”. However he has insisted that essentially the most damaging claims in opposition to him are “baseless” and that he has been unfairly focused by the BBC.
The presenter accused the BBC of failing “to research my incapacity or defend me from what I now realise was a harmful atmosphere for over 20 years”. Nevertheless, he has since come underneath fireplace for utilizing his autism as an excuse for his alleged inappropriate behaviour.
Emily Banks, founding father of neurodiversity coaching physique Enna, criticised Wallace, telling BBC Information: “To be clear: being autistic is rarely an excuse for misconduct. It doesn’t absolve anybody of accountability, and it actually doesn’t imply you may’t inform the distinction between proper and incorrect.”
Earlier within the week, the BBC obtained 50 new allegations in opposition to Wallace, together with that he groped a employee on the present. He has vehemently denied all of the claims. Wallace is reportedly planning to sue the BBC for discrimination.
“He’s been formally recognized with autism – a recognised incapacity – and but the BBC is successfully saying it may’t deal with a disabled individual,” a buddy of Wallace’s stated. “Wrap that in as many safeguarding insurance policies as you want, it nonetheless sounds quite a bit like discrimination. That is why he has been sacked.”
