Law firm to investigate allegations against MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace

The accumulation institution that makes MasterChef has appointed a City instrumentality steadfast to pb the probe into alleged misconduct by presenter Gregg Wallace.

Wallace, 60, stepped down from the BBC cooking show connected Thursday amid accusations helium made intersexual comments towards unit and personage guests connected a scope of programmes implicit 17 years.

Banijay UK, the institution that makes the programme, connected Saturday said it had appointed Lewis Silkin to pb an probe and called for anyone other wishing to rise concerns to interaction the instrumentality firm's team.

"Lewis Silkin is simply a large City instrumentality steadfast with a highly experienced specializer investigations squad which has overseen a wide scope of high-profile workplace investigations," it said.

"Banijay UK has been impressed by the firm's rigorous, in-depth, and impartial investigation and reporting."

A spokesperson added: "All accusation volition beryllium handled sensitively, and names of those providing grounds to the squad volition beryllium kept confidential."

Wallace has been a presenter connected the programme since 2005, arsenic good arsenic its spin-offs Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals.

Banijay antecedently said helium has "committed to afloat co-operating passim the process" aft the BBC received complaints implicit "historical allegations of misconduct".

In an interrogation with the BBC, Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark said she saw Wallace "use sexualised connection successful beforehand of a fig of people" erstwhile she appeared connected Celebrity MasterChef successful 2011.

Singer Sir Rod Stewart criticised Wallace connected Instagram and claimed helium "humiliated" his woman Penny Lancaster successful 2021.

The presenter is yet to straight code immoderate of the allegations and connected Saturday posted an Instagram connection of a biscuit dunked successful pick with the caption: "Enjoy your weekend."

In a video posted to the tract connected Thursday helium said: "I would similar to convey each the radical getting successful touch, reaching retired and showing their support.

"It's bully of you, convey you precise much."

The TV star's lawyers said "it is wholly mendacious that helium engages successful behaviour of a sexually harassing nature", BBC News reported.

On Friday, the foundation Ambitious About Autism said it had dropped him arsenic an ambassador citing the "recent allegations".

Wallace has 3 children and his youngest, five-year-old Sid, is non-verbal and autistic.