UK Culture Secretary “Prepared To Take Further Action” If TV Industry Fails To Get Grip On Bad Behavior Following Gregg Wallace Allegations

deadline.com:

Lisa Nandy is not mincing her words over the Gregg Wallace allegations and the TV industry’s response. The new UK Culture Secretary said she is “clear that people need to be heard, action has to be taken and perpetrators have to be stopped” as she stressed her lack of tolerance for bad behavior and a culture of complaints being “swept under the rug.” She said she takes a “dim view” of big TV industry players who are not financially backing CIISA, the yet-to-launch film and TV bullying reporting body. “CIISA think it is better if the industry grips this but if they don’t I will be prepared to take further action,” Nandy told the Culture, Media & Sport Committee (CMSC) this afternoon.

The Culture Sec has been speaking with the BBC since the TV world was rocked by the Wallace allegations, which came from more than a dozen women of inappropriate behavior and remarks, and a further three of inappropriate touching, much of which is said to have taken place on MasterChef.

Wallace’s lawyers deny he engaged in behavior of a “sexually harassing nature.” He is just the latest BBC talent to have been accused of misbehavior, following the likes of Jermaine Jenas, Huw Edwards and two ex-Strictly Come Dancing pros.

MasterChef producer Banijay UK is probing Wallace and he has stepped back from the show but Nandy criticized Banijay and others for not financially backing CIISA. “I was quite astonished when I got the list of the organizations financially supporting CIISA that Banijay is not on that list,” she added. “I take quite a dim view of company execs who do not take this seriously.” A Banijay spokeswoman said: “Banijay UK takes behavioural standards across the industry incredibly seriously.