EastEnders star suspended by BBC after disabled slur
Borthwick is said to have made the offensive remark on a phone video while the Strictly cast were at Blackpool Tower Ballroom last November.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'This language is entirely unacceptable and in no way reflects the values or standards we hold and expect at the BBC.
'We have robust processes in place for this.'
Warren Kirwan, media manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: 'Attitudes and language like this are never acceptable.
'It's not just ignorant and hurtful to disabled people, it has wider consequences.
'Negative attitudes hold disabled people back in all areas of life, from getting a job to shopping on the high street.
'Mr Borthwick needs to reflect on what he said, educate himself and do better.
'We hope he takes the opportunity to get to know the reality of disabled people's lives.'
Borthwick won the Strictly 2023 Christmas special with Nancy Xu, and won the best actor gong at the Inside Soap Awards in September that year, with the show recognised with the best storyline for Loving And Losing Lola, about character Lola Pearce-Brown's brain tumour diagnosis.
As part of the storyline, Borthwick, as Lola's husband Jay, and Emma Barton, as Honey Mitchell, ran the London Marathon in character in honour of Lola after her death.
His suspension comes after Wynne Evans last week said he had been dropped by the BBC, following an apology saying that he used 'inappropriate language' during the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing tour.
The Welsh opera singer, 53, known for the Go.Compare insurance advertisements, will no longer be a BBC Radio Wales presenter, he announced on May 30.
Earlier this year, he apologised for language that he called 'inappropriate and unacceptable' after The Mail On Sunday reported that Evans was heard making a remark to a woman in a video filmed during the Strictly launch event.
It is understood he was given a warning over the remark by tour producers.
In January, he said: 'I've agreed with the BBC that I'll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing.
'I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection.
'Apologies to those I won't get to see at the remaining performances and I'm grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me.'
The singer, who performed in the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Of The Opera and also won 2023's Celebrity MasterChef, told The Sun on Sunday earlier this month that the Strictly comment was not sexual or directed at one of the female cast but was a nickname for fellow contestant Borthwick.
He told the paper: 'I didn't see the statement, Old Spit-roast Boy was a nickname for Jamie Borthwick. I'm not a bad guy, I'm not a misogynist, I'm not any of these things.'
Evans added: 'And so I went, 'I'm so sorry'. And that was taken as a formal apology, so the press team issued a statement. I didn't see it.
'When I read the apology within the context of the story as it had been written, I was absolutely horrified.'
The Strictly tour saw contestants of the most recent series return to the dancefloor, including Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, actress Sarah Hadland, JLS singer JB Gill, The X Factor winner Shayne Ward and Gladiators star Montell Douglas.
They toured the country alongside Strictly judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse, performing in cities including Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and London.
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Scottish Sun
19 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Gregg Wallace treated for ‘heart attack' after misconduct probe stress as BBC reveals 50 new claims against sacked host
AXED MasterChef host Gregg Wallace last night declared war on the BBC, raging: 'I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.' The 60-year-old star's outburst came as the Beeb announced he had been sacked following an inquiry into alleged misconduct. 7 Gregg Wallace was sacked by the BBC following an inquiry into alleged misconduct Credit: Olivia West 7 The BBC said another 50 people had made claims about his behaviour across several shows, pictured on MasterChef with co-host John Torode Credit: BBC 7 The axed MasterChef host was rushed to hospital in Ashford on Sunday with a suspected heart attack after two days of agonising chest pains Credit: Rex And the corporation turned up the heat by saying another 50 people had made claims about his behaviour across several shows. They included new allegations he groped a MasterChef worker and pulled his trousers down in front of another. Wallace, who left the hit cooking show in November and danced on 2014's Strictly, denies the claims. Sources said he was considering suing the BBC. And we can reveal that on Sunday he was rushed to hospital in Ashford, Kent, with a suspected heart attack after two days of agonising chest pains. He told a pal: 'The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It's been hell.' The report into Wallace's behaviour, ordered by production firm Banijay and conducted by external lawyers Lewis Silkin, is officially due out tomorrow. But yesterday, two days after leaving hospital, Wallace was told his contract will be terminated. He posted online: 'After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.' He pointed out he had been exonerated of the most serious allegations in the Silkin report, including a separate claim of groping. Gregg Wallace admits 'I'm f****d' & tells pals he fears MasterChef will sack him after 'grope' probe And he said: 'I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. 'For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.' The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It's been hell Gregg Wallace Wallace — who has never been publicly backed by co-host of 20 years John Torode — is now poised to take Banijay or the BBC to tribunal. He has taken on 'rottweiler' lawyer Dan Morrison, who represented Nigel Farage in the NatWest/Coutts bank account closure scandal. In a further blow to the Beeb, Wallace's lawyers could push for the release of the report's executive summary, which might jeopardise senior MasterChef execs and talent. An insider said: 'This is war. Gregg is raging and, frankly, has nothing left to lose. He feels he has been hung out to dry. He was employed to play the fun, unfiltered cheeky chappy greengrocer and he played that role as he always pledged to do. 'He feels there's been a cover-up and other people's bad behaviour ignored. 'Gregg will not go quietly — it is an absolute nightmare for the BBC.' The star's mum died from a heart attack in March. In April he revealed he had considered suicide. 7 Sources said Wallace was considering suing the BBC Credit: BBC 7 Wallace has taken on 'rottweiler' lawyer Dan Morrison Credit: BBC In his statement yesterday he also claimed the BBC had failed to help him over neurodiversity, since formally diagnosed as autism. He said: 'Nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years. That failure is now being quietly buried.' A source added: 'Gregg has been struggling with his mental health and was rushed to hospital over the weekend. Doctors have blamed stress, and he came out only to find out almost immediately he will lose his livelihood. 'He is furious and devastated and, after much deliberation, is taking on an incredibly bullish legal team to fight his corner. Gregg has seen the report and believes he is cleared of the most serious wrongdoing allegations, so has taken great consolation from that.' After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others Gregg Wallace Banijay's probe began nine months ago after BBC News revealed he faced 13 complaints from women, which later rose to 30. Wallace was then vilified for saying they stemmed from 'middle-class women of a certain age'. HOST DEMANDS BBC ANSWERS EX-TELLY host Gregg Wallace issued a statement online yesterday. Here are key extracts. "After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others. I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me. I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks. I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all. For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem. My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of Master Chef. Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years. That failure is now being quietly buried. Unfortunately, the full report will never be seen. I would like to know why? I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience." It is understood he has now been cleared of bullying allegations brought by 2021 contestant Penny Lancaster. Broadcaster and 2011 series star Kirsty Wark's evidence was discredited after investigators were told she had been 'dining out' on telling stories about Wallace, including at the Edinburgh Festival last year. The claims of Wallace's constant innuendos, which left crew in tears, by 2011 contestant Jackie Kearney have also been thrown out, it is understood. In two categories — 'demeaning' nicknames for staff and Wallace being 'direct' with contestants — investigators said his actions were unintentional. Gregg has been struggling with his mental health and was rushed to hospital over the weekend. Doctors have blamed stress A source It is understood his autism diagnosis has been used to explain some behaviour. Other allegations were upheld. They included that he opened his dressing room door with a sock over his privates and shouted 'Hooray.' He was also found against in terms of inappropriate language and repetition of sexualised jokes. The BBC is under enormous pressure to save money, and is unlikely to offer Wallace any payout or redundancy package. He may get a six-figure payout from a tribunal in his favour. 7 Wallace has never been publicly backed by co-host of 20 years Torode Credit: BBC 7 Gregg and Aliona Vilani on Strictly Credit: BBC
The Sun
20 minutes ago
- The Sun
Gregg Wallace treated for ‘heart attack' after misconduct probe stress as BBC reveals 50 new claims against sacked host
AXED MasterChef host Gregg Wallace last night declared war on the BBC, raging: 'I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.' The 60-year-old star's outburst came as the Beeb announced he had been sacked following an inquiry into alleged misconduct. 7 7 7 And the corporation turned up the heat by saying another 50 people had made claims about his behaviour across several shows. They included new allegations he groped a MasterChef worker and pulled his trousers down in front of another. Wallace, who left the hit cooking show in November and danced on 2014's Strictly, denies the claims. Sources said he was considering suing the BBC. And we can reveal that on Sunday he was rushed to hospital in Ashford, Kent, with a suspected heart attack after two days of agonising chest pains. He told a pal: 'The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It's been hell.' The report into Wallace's behaviour, ordered by production firm Banijay and conducted by external lawyers Lewis Silkin, is officially due out tomorrow. But yesterday, two days after leaving hospital, Wallace was told his contract will be terminated. He posted online: 'After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.' He pointed out he had been exonerated of the most serious allegations in the Silkin report, including a separate claim of groping. Gregg Wallace admits 'I'm f****d' & tells pals he fears MasterChef will sack him after 'grope' probe And he said: 'I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. 'For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks.' The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It's been hell Gregg Wallace Wallace — who has never been publicly backed by co-host of 20 years John Torode — is now poised to take Banijay or the BBC to tribunal. He has taken on 'rottweiler' lawyer Dan Morrison, who represented Nigel Farage in the NatWest/Coutts bank account closure scandal. In a further blow to the Beeb, Wallace's lawyers could push for the release of the report's executive summary, which might jeopardise senior MasterChef execs and talent. An insider said: 'This is war. Gregg is raging and, frankly, has nothing left to lose. He feels he has been hung out to dry. He was employed to play the fun, unfiltered cheeky chappy greengrocer and he played that role as he always pledged to do. 'He feels there's been a cover-up and other people's bad behaviour ignored. 'Gregg will not go quietly — it is an absolute nightmare for the BBC.' The star's mum died from a heart attack in March. In April he revealed he had considered suicide. 7 7 In his statement yesterday he also claimed the BBC had failed to help him over neurodiversity, since formally diagnosed as autism. He said: 'Nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years. That failure is now being quietly buried.' A source added: 'Gregg has been struggling with his mental health and was rushed to hospital over the weekend. Doctors have blamed stress, and he came out only to find out almost immediately he will lose his livelihood. 'He is furious and devastated and, after much deliberation, is taking on an incredibly bullish legal team to fight his corner. Gregg has seen the report and believes he is cleared of the most serious wrongdoing allegations, so has taken great consolation from that.' Banijay's probe began nine months ago after BBC News revealed he faced 13 complaints from women, which later rose to 30. Wallace was then vilified for saying they stemmed from 'middle-class women of a certain age'. HOST DEMANDS BBC ANSWERS EX-TELLY host Gregg Wallace issued a statement online yesterday. Here are key extracts. "After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others. I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me. I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise without reservation. But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks. I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all. For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem. My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of Master Chef. Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years. That failure is now being quietly buried. Unfortunately, the full report will never be seen. I would like to know why? I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience." It is understood he has now been cleared of bullying allegations brought by 2021 contestant Penny Lancaster. Broadcaster and 2011 series star Kirsty Wark's evidence was discredited after investigators were told she had been 'dining out' on telling stories about Wallace, including at the Edinburgh Festival last year. The claims of Wallace's constant innuendos, which left crew in tears, by 2011 contestant Jackie Kearney have also been thrown out, it is understood. In two categories — 'demeaning' nicknames for staff and Wallace being 'direct' with contestants — investigators said his actions were unintentional. Gregg has been struggling with his mental health and was rushed to hospital over the weekend. Doctors have blamed stress A source It is understood his autism diagnosis has been used to explain some behaviour. Other allegations were upheld. They included that he opened his dressing room door with a sock over his privates and shouted 'Hooray.' He was also found against in terms of inappropriate language and repetition of sexualised jokes. The BBC is under enormous pressure to save money, and is unlikely to offer Wallace any payout or redundancy package. He may get a six-figure payout from a tribunal in his favour. 7 7 Gregg Wallace - MasterChef scandal in Brief GREGG Wallace has stepped down from his MasterChef hosting role after a probe into alleged inappropriate behaviour. But what's the situation? Regular MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is currently the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years. Gregg has been accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb anchor Kirsty Wark - accusations he denies. The 60-year-old has now stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated. Yet the former greengrocer spoke out on social media to blast the "women of a certain age" who he claimed were behind the allegations. The cooking show's production company, Banijay UK, has said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace's alleged misconduct.
Sky News
36 minutes ago
- Sky News
'I will not go quietly,' Gregg Wallace says amid reports he's been sacked from Masterchef
Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has vowed he will "not go quietly", amid reports that he has been sacked from MasterChef. It comes after the TV host faced an investigation, commissioned by MasterChef's production company Banijay UK, into alleged inappropriate behaviour while working for the BBC. In November, the 60-year-old stepped back from presenting the cooking show after accusations that he made sexual comments towards staff and celebrity guests on a range of programmes over 17 years. Broadcaster Kirsty Wark, author and actor Emma Kennedy, and presenter Kirstie Allsopp, were among the high-profile figures who made claims of inappropriate behaviour against Wallace. In a statement, released ahead of the publication of the summary of a report into the claims, the 60-year-old said he had been "cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations" made against him. However, he said the report, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin, had found him "primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018". Wallace's statement, published on Instagram, came hours before the BBC News reported that 50 more people had made claims to the corporation against the presenter, including allegations he groped one MasterChef worker and pulled his trousers down in front of another. In his statement, Wallace labelled BBC News's claims as "uncorroborated tittle-tattle". Wallace wrote: "I have taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkin's report - a decision I do not take lightly. "But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others. "I have now been cleared by the Silkin's report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me. "The most damaging claims (including from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation. "To be clear, the Silkin's report exonerates me of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds me primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018." 'I was hired as the cheeky greengrocer - now that's a problem' Wallace said he recognised that "some of my humour and language" was at times "inappropriate" and, for that, he apologised "without reservation". "But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks," Wallace, who also referred to his recent diagnosis of autism, added. "I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges, and all. "For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem." Wallace: Complaints from 'middle-class women of a certain age' Shortly after the allegations first emerged, Wallace recorded a video where he dismissed his accusers as "middle-class women of a certain age". His remarks were met with huge criticism - including from Downing Street, where a spokesperson for the prime minister described them as "completely inappropriate and misogynistic". Wallace responded by posting a follow-up clip where he apologised and said he "wasn't in a good space" when he posted the comments. Wallace was replaced in the 20th season of MasterChef, which aired this spring, by restaurant critic and former I 'm A Celebrity contestant Grace Dent. Several Christmas episodes of the show were also pulled from the BBC's 2024 festive schedule. In April, Wallace spoke to the Daily Mail, denying all accusations against him and saying he had contemplated suicide following the allegations. Wallace's lawyers have previously called allegations that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature "entirely false". A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published." A Banijay spokesperson told Sky News: "We won't be commenting until our report is published." They have signalled the report will be published later this week or next. Banijay previously said Wallace was "committed to fully co-operating" with the external review. Alongside MasterChef, Wallace presented Inside The Factory for BBC Two from 2015 to 2023. He also featured on various BBC shows over the years, including Saturday Kitchen, Eat Well For Less, Supermarket Secrets, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, as well as being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in 2014. More recently, Wallace has been promoting his health and lifestyle website, offering one-to-one coaching from both himself and a team of experts, which includes nutritionists and doctors, and his wife Anna in the role of recipe curator. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@ in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
