BBC ‘enthusiastically digging their own grave’ with Gregg Wallace ‘failures’ as MasterChef Christmas episodes pulled

Former Labour MP Stephen Pound has accused the BBC of “digging their own grave” over its handling of the Gregg Wallace controversy, saying the MasterChef presenter should have been removed from the show years ago.

The broadcaster faces mounting criticism after multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour emerged against Wallace spanning 17 years.

Speaking to GB News journalist Mike Parry said: “The allegations are that he has made sexual innuendos against women, that his behaviour has been bad, that he’s made women feel uncomfortable.

“Melanie Sykes said she wanted to come out of the MasterChef series.

“What I’m saying is that this is a situation which could have been addressed early on, like they should be, and it could have gone away.”

Former Labour MP Stephen Pound responded: “The reality of the situation is he should have actually been taken off that show years ago.

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“It shouldn’t have been a great big core celebrity. Talk about the BBC digging their own grave enthusiastically.

“Look in the reality. As soon as this happened, they should have said, look, it’s just not working.

“But to let it carry on and on and on, then you’re creating the problem. And it’s not fair on Gregg, and it’s certainly not fair on all those women.”

The BBC has now pulled two planned Christmas specials amid the ongoing investigation.

While Christmas specials of Celebrity MasterChef have been axed, MasterChef: The Professionals continues to air on BBC One.

The broadcaster defended this decision, stating: “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.”

Three repeat episodes of Inside the Factory, also featuring Wallace, have been removed from BBC Two’s December schedule.

The first cancelled Christmas special was set to feature The Wanted’s Max George and Love Island’s Luca Bish, while the second would have included Strictly Come Dancing stars.

A BBC News investigation revealed multiple accusations of inappropriate sexual comments against Wallace over 17 years.

Wallace’s lawyers have denied he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.

The controversy intensified after Wallace posted a video blaming “middle-class women of a certain age” for his crisis. A BBC spokesperson emphasised: “The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.”