Downing Street says Gregg Wallace’s response to allegations was misogynistic

nme.com:

allegations of misconduct on Masterchef was “inappropriate and misogynistic”.On Thursday (November 28), it was announced that the presenter was stepping down from MasterChef after a series of complaints were made to the BBC.The allegations included a pattern of inappropriate sexual comments and actions made by Wallace to 13 people who worked with him over a period of 17 years, with the corporation passing the allegations onto Wallace’s representatives shortly before they were made public.Wallace’s lawyers said it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.

In a video posted over the weekend, he dismissed the accusers as being “middle-class women of a certain age” all from Celebrity Masterchef.“In 20 years, over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants on MasterChef, have made sexual remarks, or sexual innuendo, can you imagine?”Now, number 10 has confirmed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has held talks with BBC bosses over the controversy.

In addition, a senior MP has also questioned why MasterChef hasn’t been taken off air while the investigation is ongoing.Episodes of MasterChef featuring Wallace are still set to air, one of which will be broadcast today (December 2).

It is also understood the Christmas specials will air as planned.The suggestion of pausing the long-running cooking show came from Rupa Huq, a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.“I think possibly there is an argument for pausing while this investigation takes its course, and maybe not airing it tonight,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today.“I understand it’s scheduled for 9pm today, and it’s already in the Christmas schedules, but it seems to be not going away from the news.”She.