Banijay is rolling out a third-party whistleblowing service across all productions following the publication of a report upholding more than 40 allegations against former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace and one against his co-presenter John Torode.
The company has formally sacked both presenters from the show in the wake of a report it commissioned from law firm Lewis Silkin, which upheld 45 of the 83 allegations about Wallace's behaviour.
All but one of the upheld claims related to incidents between 2005 and 2018 and 94% related to his use of inappropriate sexual language and humour.
In total, the report substantiated 16 allegations of sexually explicit comments, 14 of which took place between 2005 and 2011; 12 of inappropriate humour and innuendo; seven of bullying; four of ‘culturally insensitive or racist’ comments and two of sexualised comments to or about someone.
The report also upheld complaints of physical contact and of Wallace being in a state of undress.
Meanwhile, 10 allegations were made against other people, two of which were substantiated.
These related to inappropriate language - one of swearing and one of "extremely offensive" racist language.
The latter was subsequently confirmed to refer to Torode, whose contract will not be renewed.
The BBC acknowledged: “Although the full extent of these issues was not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.”
Last week, BBC News reported an additional 50 allegations against Wallace, 20 of which were on Banijay productions.
It also emerged that Claire Powell, head of compliance for BBC content, had told Wallace that his struggle to “distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace”, and his lack of “awareness of why your behaviour impacts others”, unsafe working environment.
“I do not have confidence that your behaviour can change to ensure there is a sufficiently safe and respectful environment for others working with you in the types of programmes the BBC has engaged you to present,” she wrote.
“Such productions are not heavily scripted programmes and involve sound and consistent levels of judgment in relation to interactions with others which cannot constantly be monitored or supervised.”
Freelancer discomfort
Lewis Silkin said a lack of formal training or clear escalation procedures at Shine TV – and owners Shine (until 2016) and Endemol Shine (until 2020, prior to its acquisition by Banijay Entertainment) – led to underreporting of inappropriate behaviour.
Freelancers in particular felt unable to raise issues due to concerns of the impact it might have on their future employment.
The report zeroed in on 2005 to 2011, when issues were often dealt with informally and on a case by case basis, with no records of action taken and issues effectively treated as a first offence both by Wallace’s employers and by the BBC, which held no consolidated or centrally-held information.
Shine investigated an allegation against Wallace in 2015 and the complainant was said to be happy with the outcome.
Two years later, the BBC intervened in response to another complaint, followed by BBC head of entertainment Kate Phillips – who was recently promoted to chief content officer Kate Phillips – reportedly spending 90 minutes with Wallace to chide him over his behaviour in 2018.
Independent support
Acknowledging the report’s detailing of failures in legacy reporting and HR procedures “makes for uncomfortable reading”, Banijay UK chief executive Patrick Holland said it also “provides valuable insight to ensure that going forward everyone working on our productions feels safe and supported, and that inappropriate behaviour is quickly and professionally dealt with”.
He added: “Ways of reporting concerns whilst working on our productions, protocols around behaviour and training for both cast and crew, have improved exponentially in recent years and I’m encouraged that this is acknowledged in the report. We constantly review welfare procedures across our productions to ensure that they are as robust as they can be.
“Banijay Entertainment already has a confidential speak up line for those wishing to raise issues. However, we will be rolling out an additional externally run whistle blowing service across all our productions with immediate effect. This will not only provide additional external routes to raise issues or concerns but will also provide independent support and advice to cast and crew.”
Holland also said Wallace’s recent autism diagnosis is “relevant to certain behaviours identified in the report” and accepted the production could have done more to “identify, manage and communicate patterns of inappropriate behaviour”.
The report also said the “findings should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity” - most notably “his use of humour as a ‘masking’ technique and his difficulty in reading social cues”.
It added: “Mr Wallace accepts that his diagnosis may help to explain some of his actions, but he does not wish to hide behind it.”
The BBC said it had not yet made a final decision about whether to broadcast any episodes that have already been filmed.
Masterchef 'can survive and prosper'
Speaking at the publication of the BBC's annual report, Davie outlined the dilemma the corporation faces over the broadcast.
“As editor-in-chief, one of my overwhelming concerns is that we have got all the amateur chefs that have put their heart and soul into this programme, and we have to reflect on that, consult with them and talk to the audience, and then make that call,” he said.
“I’m not ruling out not airing it one way or the other. I just want to go through that process then we can quickly make a call.”
Grace Dent took over from Wallace as co-host for a 2025 celebrity series of the show but no decision has been made on future presenters.
Davie said MasterChef "absolutely can survive and prosper, but we have got to make sure we are in the right place in terms of the culture of the show.”
‘A learning moment for the industry’
Bectu head Philippa Childs described the report as a “learning moment for the industry” that “must drive concrete change”.
She said it revealed “a real failure by Banijay to take these issues seriously and act accordingly”.
Childs added: “It is entirely unacceptable that complaints have been raised consistently over the last two decades, and yet only in the last few months has any concrete action been taken.
"Far too often, production companies and broadcasters point to engaging external reporting lines or improved internal procedures as evidence of taking these issues seriously. But it is clear these measures are wholly insufficient.”
