Gregg Wallace has been accused of “extremely inappropriate” behaviour together with making “lesbian jokes continually”, commonly discussing spanking and threesomes, and making sexually specific feedback whereas filming programmes, a number of sources have mentioned.

Additional particulars of the allegations dealing with the MasterChef host have emerged because the announcement on Thursday that he was stepping away from his position after the BBC acquired complaints about alleged misconduct.

Within the hours after the information, Wallace, who has introduced the BBC One cooking present alongside John Torode since 2005, thanked his supporters in a video on Instagram, during which he mentioned: “I wish to thank all of the folks getting in contact, reaching out and displaying their help. It’s good of you – thanks very a lot.”

Wallace is dealing with allegations of inappropriate sexual feedback from 13 individuals who labored with him throughout a spread of reveals over a 17-year interval, in keeping with an investigation by BBC Information. The presenter’s legal professionals have mentioned the suggestion that Wallace engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature was fully false.

One lady who labored with Wallace on the journey present Gregg Wallace’s Massive Weekends in 2019 advised BBC Information that Wallace made “lesbian jokes continually”, was “fascinated” by the very fact she dated ladies, and requested her the “logistics” of her relationships.

One other lady, who labored on the identical programme in 2019, mentioned the TV persona commonly talked about intercourse and about domination and spanking. “[It] was extremely inappropriate,” she mentioned. One other lady mentioned Wallace had confirmed her photographs of a girl in her underwear on his cellphone. On one other event, she alleged that whereas filming in Italy he had proven her his outfits for the following day in his lodge room, had taken his prime off and mentioned “let me provide you with a style present”.

She mentioned a male colleague had initially been within the room, however had left. She recalled the Millwall tattoo on Wallace’s chest, saying she discovered the expertise very uncomfortable. “It’s bizarre to be alone in a room with a topless stranger,” she advised BBC Information.

Different allegations of inappropriate behaviour in opposition to Wallace embody:

• A person who labored on Massive Weekends and different journey reveals between 2019 and 2022 mentioned Wallace talked about threesomes with intercourse staff and mentioned he “loves spanking” a number of instances a day.

• A girl who labored on MasterChef in 2019 mentioned Wallace talked about his intercourse life and had requested if her boyfriend had a pleasant backside.

• A girl on the BBC Good Meals Present in 2010 mentioned Wallace stared at her chest.

• A girl on Eat Nicely for Much less? in 2019 mentioned Wallace advised her he wasn’t sporting any boxer shorts underneath his denims.

• A person who labored on MasterChef in 2005-06 mentioned Wallace commonly made sexually specific feedback on set. He mentioned Wallace as soon as mentioned a dish tasted like his aunt’s vagina, and on one other event had requested a feminine runner if she put her finger up her boyfriend’s backside.

A spokesperson for Channel 5, which airs Massive Weekends, mentioned the broadcaster had requested Rumpus, the manufacturing firm which makes the present, to look into the claims. “We take any allegations of this nature extraordinarily critically,” they mentioned. “The well being and wellbeing of everybody concerned in our productions is essential to us and we would like all of our productions to be secure and safe locations for folks to work.”

Rumpus mentioned: “We don’t tolerate inappropriate behaviour on our productions. Our complete responsibility of care processes have been in place throughout manufacturing of those collection and any issues raised would have been investigated in accordance with these.”

A No 10 spokesperson described the allegations in opposition to Wallace as “deeply regarding”.

“It’s proper {that a} thorough investigation is carried out, however this in fact is one for the BBC and you should have seen their assertion saying that they ‘take any points which are raised with us critically and we now have sturdy processes in place’,” they mentioned.

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“I consider the BBC is at the moment enterprise a office tradition overview to ship clear and well timed suggestions, and it’s important that employees and the broader public have faith that the BBC takes these points critically.”

On Thursday MasterChef’s manufacturing firm, Banijay UK, mentioned it had launched an investigation after the BBC acquired complaints about Wallace’s behaviour and mentioned the 60-year-old was “dedicated to completely cooperating all through the method”.

The presenter Kirsty Wark, who was a Celeb MasterChef contestant in 2011, advised BBC Information that on two events throughout early morning filming Wallace advised tales and jokes of a “sexualised nature” in entrance of contestants and crew. She mentioned she felt strongly that the feedback have been “actually, actually within the improper place”.

Rod Stewart, whose spouse, Penny Lancaster, appeared on Celeb MasterChef in 2021, used his Instagram account on Thursday to touch upon Wallace’s break from the present. Stewart referred to as Wallace a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” and mentioned the presenter had humiliated his spouse.

Talking on BBC Radio 4’s At the moment programme on Friday, the previous BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey, who was behind the high-profile sackings of Richard Bacon and Angus Deayton, mentioned broadcasters and programme makers needed to “cease treating the presenter as in the event that they’re a particular case”.

She mentioned: “They’re only one individual in an enormous staff that will get a present on air, and they’re neither extra particular nor much less particular than anyone else. One way or the other we’ve obtained a tradition … of pandering to those that are in entrance of digicam and letting them get away with the type of behaviour that different folks in groups wouldn’t be allowed to get away with.”

A BBC spokesperson mentioned: “We’re all the time clear that any behaviour which falls under the requirements anticipated by the BBC is not going to be tolerated. The place a person is contracted instantly by an exterior manufacturing firm we share any complaints or issues with that firm and we are going to all the time help them when addressing them.”