MasterChef has issued a statement announcing that Gregg Wallace will be leaving the show.
The decision came after an investigation was launched into historical allegations of misconduct, including alleged inappropriate sexual comments.
Already recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals, which is currently on BBC One and featuring Gregg, will air as planned until December.
While Gregg, 60, has yet to comment, producer Banijay, who is behind the show, issued a statement Thursday.
Read his full statement:
Banijay UK said: ‘This week the BBC received complaints from people regarding historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our programmes.
MasterChef has issued a statement announcing that Gregg Wallace will be leaving the show.
“While these whistleblowers have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we believe it is appropriate to conduct an immediate external review to fully and impartially investigate.
“While this review takes place, Gregg Wallace will step down from his role on MasterChef and agrees to cooperate fully throughout the process.
“Banijay UK’s duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behavior are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways to raise concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.
“While these are historical allegations, incidents reported to us where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and appropriately addressed.”
The statement added: “If anyone would like to speak to us or raise any issues or concerns, they can contact Speakup@banijayuk.com confidentially.”
The BBC has said it takes any issues raised “seriously”.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We take any issues raised seriously and have robust processes in place to deal with them.
‘We have always made it clear that any behavior that falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.
“When an individual is hired directly by an outside production company, we share any complaints or concerns with that company and will always support them when addressing them.”
Already recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals, which is currently on BBC One and featuring Gregg, will air as planned until December (pictured with John Torode)
Gregg with his wife Anne-Marie Sterpini – the couple seen here at the wedding of Lisa Faulkner and John Torode in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in October 2019.
Banijay has not revealed the nature of the allegations, but last month it was claimed that the shopkeeper-turned-TV star had boasted about his sex life to a younger BBC employee and removed his top in front of her.
In October, Gregg vehemently denied making inappropriate sexual comments toward women, stating that he would never “flirt” or “flirt” with another woman and: “I didn’t say anything sexual.”
That same month, the host admitted he was feeling stressed amid accusations that he made inappropriate sexual comments toward women.
The chef took to Instagram with a live video in which he offered advice on healthy eating while also alluding to new accusations made against him this week.
He told viewers he was “a little distracted right now” but said he “wanted to check in and say hello.”
Gregg has been co-presenter and judge of the BBC cooking show MasterChef, alongside John since 2005.
The MasterChef judge married his fourth wife, Anne-Marie Sterpini, 37, who he calls Anna, at Hever Castle in Kent in 2016.