Melanie Sykes criticises TV industry after Celebrity MasterChef experience – saying she complained at the time | Ents & Arts News

Superstar Masterchef contestant Melanie Sykes has criticised the TV trade within the wake of the allegations made about host Gregg Wallace, saying it’s as much as bosses to behave on unprofessional behaviour and never let one individual be a “scapegoat”.

The previous TV presenter and broadcaster, who rose to fame on exhibits together with The Massive Breakfast and At the moment With Des And Mel within the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s, appeared on Superstar MasterChef in 2021.

She wrote about her expertise on the present in her autobiography Illuminated, launched in 2023, and the way she determined to stroll away from present enterprise afterwards.

In a brand new clip shared on her YouTube channel, Sykes mentioned she complained after showing on the present, however didn’t need to make it formal.

Wallace, 60, faces allegations from 13 individuals throughout a variety of exhibits over a 17-year interval, with many others sharing their experiences within the wake of the preliminary claims.

He has briefly stepped down from the BBC cooking present whereas historic misconduct complaints are externally reviewed by producers Banijay UK. His legal professionals say “it’s solely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.

Sykes, 54, mentioned she wished to talk out to let individuals know what the trade is like. “Each time Gregg came to visit to the desk, I did not like him being round, actually,” she mentioned. “As a result of it is all about vibrations and vitality.”

Learn extra:
Allegations are ‘tip of the iceberg with MasterChef’
Wallace remark ‘left me crying with humiliation’

‘Cease letting one individual be a scapegoat’

Sykes, who additionally appeared on I am A Superstar… Get Me Out Of Right here! in 2014, mentioned the MasterChef manufacturing firm was at fault “as a result of they facilitate… what is the phrase? It is simply unprofessionalism, actually.

“I’ve seen unprofessionalism in lots of areas of that f****** trade and I’ve not uncovered all and every little thing as a result of I simply do not need to, it is simply so poisonous, and I can not…

“Cease letting one individual be a scapegoat, which is the so-called expertise, as a result of that is what they name you, is the one which has to hold the can on a regular basis.

“If I had any individual misbehaving or performing unprofessionally on my manufacturing, let me inform you, they would not be on my manufacturing. I would not tolerate it. I do not care who it’s.”

Sykes mentioned she believes alleged unprofessional behaviour is allowed to proceed as a result of “individuals assume, properly, you already know, we will not eliminate him actually, as a result of it is such a profitable present”.

She added: “I complained afterwards. I mentioned I did not need to make a proper criticism as a result of truthfully, I might spend my entire time in litigation if I did that. And I feel that is one of many the explanation why individuals do not go for it.”

‘It isn’t about wokeness’

In the meantime, Stephen Fry has advised Sky Information’ Kay Burley that males in tv should think about who stands out as the “sufferer or stereotype” on the root of their “mild banter”.

“It is simply good manners, actually,” he mentioned. “Good manners have modified… and so I feel we have all simply bought to understand it is not about wokeness, it is nearly being delicate to the ambiance.”

After the allegations emerged, Wallace launched a video dismissing his accusers as “middle-class ladies of a sure age“.

Following a backlash – with even Downing Avenue weighing in – he issued an apology on Monday, saying: “I wasn’t in an excellent headspace once I posted it, I have been below an enormous quantity of stress, lots of emotion, I felt very alone, below siege yesterday once I posted it.”

He added: “It is apparent to me I have to take a while out now whereas this investigation is below method. I hope you perceive and I do hope you’ll settle for this apology.”

Learn extra:
What are the allegations – and what has Wallace mentioned?
‘Center-aged ladies’: An epic failure in disaster administration

Fry mentioned Wallace’s preliminary response was “unbelievably silly”, and added: “Even when he felt that he’d been misunderstood himself, he might certainly see that there have been some ladies there who had been actually damage and had felt not listened to, and that he ought to to begin with handle that.”

Manufacturing firm Banijay UK has appointed legislation agency Lewis Silkin to steer an investigation into Wallace’s alleged behaviour.

A spokesperson mentioned the corporate takes the complaints “extremely critically” however won’t touch upon particular person allegations whereas the exterior investigation is ongoing.

“You will need to observe that MasterChef welfare processes are usually tailored and strengthened and there are clear protocols to assist each crew and contributors,” the Banijay spokesperson mentioned. “These embody a number of methods of reporting points, together with anonymously.”

In response to studies that a number of complaints had been raised with the BBC, a supply for the company mentioned it will not touch upon people or any inside HR processes however that it will be “improper to report the BBC has performed nothing if or when issues have been raised with us – not least as a result of it’s already being broadly reported there have been interventions in each 2017 and 2018 the place motion was taken”.

Final week, a BBC spokesperson mentioned that any points raised are taken critically and there are “sturdy processes in place” to take care of them.

“We’re at all times clear that any behaviour which falls beneath the requirements anticipated by the BBC won’t be tolerated,” the spokesperson mentioned.

Sky Information has contacted representatives for Wallace for remark.