Gregg Wallace 'faced complaints for making lewd comments' while on Strictly Come Dancing 10 years ago but BBC bosses let him stay on show
Gregg Wallace faced complaints for making lewd comments on Strictly Come Dancing ten years ago but was allowed to stay on the show, an insider has claimed.
The BBC allegedly permitted the MasterChef co-host, paired with dancer Aliona Vilani, to remain on series 12 in 2014 despite him being accused of sexual remarks.
It comes after Wallace, 60, stepped back from the show amid an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour following claims made by more than a dozen people across a range of shows over a 17-year period - which he denies.
Wallace left his Strictly partner 'distressed' during show rehearsals as he touched his crotch after ripping his trousers and declaring he was not wearing underwear.
He had said, giggling: 'I don't wear underwear' while gesturing to his crotch, leaving Vilani to ask: 'Are you for real?'. Beaming, Wallace explained while shaking his hips: 'It's easy to move with [no underwear] I've never worn underwear. I wear socks.'
Aliona then told the camera: 'I'm just way too distressed about the situation' before begging him to 'put it away' as he seemingly teased her, with viewers only seeing him from the waist up. He added: 'I haven't worn a pair of pants since I was about 17.'
At least one member of the show explained the situation to Strictly bosses and held meetings over his behaviour early on during the series, reported The Sun.
But Wallace, then 50, continued his involvement with the Russian-Kazakh dancer, then 30, before becoming the first celebrity to be eliminated in week two.
Gregg Wallace and his dancing partner Aliona Vilani on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014
Gregg Wallace, then 50, was partnered with Russian-Kazakh dancer Aliona Vilani in 2014
A Strictly insider told the Sun: 'The situation around his behaviour was made very clear to Strictly staff. It included sexual comments which made people feel incredibly uncomfortable. It created a very strained atmosphere backstage.
'As I understand there were a number of meetings to discuss the issues. In the end, Wallace remained on the show but not for much longer, given he was eliminated so quickly.'
Asked about the Strictly complaint, a BBC spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'Whilst we do not comment on individuals, we take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.
'We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. '
The revelations came as a ghostwriter separately claimed Wallace sexually harassed her while she was working on his 2012 autobiography.
Shannon Kyle alleged he touched her bottom during a television appearance while she was writing Wallace's memoir Life On A Plate.
In another alleged incident, Ms Kyle claimed to BBC Newsnight that Wallace gave her 'thigh a rub' every time he changed gears in his sports car.
Gregg Wallace left Strictly partner Aliona Vilani 'distressed' during show rehearsals as he touched his crotch after ripping his trousers and declared he 'never wears underwear'
In a resurfaced clip from his 2014 stint, Wallace, then 50, left Vilani, 30, visibly uncomfortable
After tearing his trousers he confessed, giggling: 'I don't wear underwear' while gesturing to his crotch, leaving his stunned partner to asked: 'Are you for real?'
The writer, who was 35 at the time, also claimed Wallace dropped his towel in front of her after she arrived at his home to work on the book.
A statement from Wallace's lawyers to BBC News said: 'Our client has denied that he has engaged in any such behaviour, and he specifically denies any sexual misconduct with Ms Kyle.'
Earlier today, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the allegations made about Wallace's conduct were 'grim', adding that employers needed to take concerns about 'workplace harassment' seriously.
She told Sky News you should 'never underestimate women of a certain age', adding: 'Some of the stories we've heard really have been quite grim. '
Ms Cooper said it was hard for her to discuss individual cases but 'the really, I think, depressing thing is that we hear the same story too many times' about people in positions of power abusing their status and 'concerns about workplace harassment just not being taken seriously enough'.
'And we do need employers to take these things seriously,' she added.
Last week Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef, announced Wallace would be stepping away from his role on the cooking show after complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct.
![Beaming, Wallace explained, while shaking his hips : 'It's easy to move with [no underwear] I've never worn underwear. I wear socks'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/05/11/92632389-14161095-Beaming_he_explained_while_shaking_his_hips_It_s_easy_to_move_wi-a-10_1733397524663.jpg)
Beaming, Wallace explained, while shaking his hips : 'It's easy to move with [no underwear] I've never worn underwear. I wear socks'
Aliona told the camera: 'I'm just way too distressed about the situation' before begging him to 'put it away' as he seemingly teased her, with the camera only showing him from the waist up
The production company announced an 'immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate' and said Wallace was 'committed to fully co-operating throughout the process'.
Yesterday, John Torode, who has presented MasterChef alongside Wallace since 2005, said he 'loves being part of' the programme and 'will continue to be a part of it'.
Australian-born Torode said in a statement on Instagram that he found the recent reports 'truly upsetting' and the 'thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear'.
He said: 'Since last Friday I have been away filming MasterChef overseas. I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it.
'During the last few days, I've been trying to make the best cookery programme, so being busy making the show and caring for our contestants has allowed me little time to think about anything else, but that has been hard.'
He added: 'But as I hope everyone appreciates there is an investigation underway, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.'
It comes after Wallace faced fresh allegations on Tuesday evening, with BBC News reporting that one woman claimed he touched her bottom after an event and another said he pressed his crotch against her while filming a different show.
BBC MasterChef judges John Torode (left) and Gregg Wallace, in a publicity photo issued on November 26 for this year's now-cancelled Masterchef Christmas special
John Torode said in a statement on Instagram yesterday that the 'thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear'
Ghostwriter Shannon Kyle has claimed Wallace sexually harassed her while she was working on his 2012 autobiography Life On A Plate. She is pictured on BBC Newsnight yesterday
The outlet previously reported claims against Wallace from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period, with many others since sharing their alleged experiences.
His lawyers have previously strongly denied 'he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'.
The BBC announced two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials had been pulled from its festive schedule after Wallace stepped back from the show amid an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
The corporation said: 'As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned.
'The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.'
Celebrity Escape To The Country will air instead of Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off on December 23, while an episode of The Repair Shop will replace MasterChef Meets Strictly Festive Extravaganza on December 30, according to The Sun.
Three episodes of BBC Two's Inside The Factory, which are repeats, are also coming out of the schedule, but the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals remains on air.
On Monday, Wallace apologised for claiming complaints about his behaviour came from 'a handful of middle-class women of a certain age', adding he will 'take some time out'.
It came after his statement sparked a backlash, with Downing Street saying his response to the accusations was 'inappropriate and misogynistic'.
