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Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
BBC looks at licence fee overhaul as whopping 300,000 fewer Brits sign up for £174.50 a year cost
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE BBC is looking into a licence fee overhaul with hundreds of thousands of households refusing to pay up. The broadcaster's annual report released today says competition from streaming services has created a "moment of real jeopardy for the sector". 6 A view of BBC Broadcasting House in central London Credit: PA 6 An estimated 300,000 households have stopped paying. The report revealed 23.8m licences were in force at the end of the year, down from 24.1m in 2023-24. The drop means a loss of about £50m in revenue for the corporation. It comes as BBC Director-General Tim Davie was shown to have been given a £15,000 annual pay rise despite a string of controversies in recent months, including involving Gregg Wallace, Huw Edwards and Bob Vylan. And departing Match of the Day host Gary Lineker ended his time with the Corporation by topping its pay league for the eighth consecutive year, raking in £1.35million. Key points in the BBC Annual Report Gary Lineker has topped the list of highest earners for another year He was followed by Zoe Ball, who remains second best-paid at the Beeb despite her dramatic pay cut More than two thirds of the broadcaster's top 20 earners received pay rises BBC Breakfast star Naga Munchetty received a boost to her pay, but co-host Charlie Stayt's salary stayed the same Disgraced presenter Huw Edwards did not feature on the list after his exit from the broadcaster Meanwhile the number of people paying for a TV licence fell by around 300,000 last year - almost two per cent in all BBC boss Tim Davie breaks silence on MasterChef future as John Torode asked to quit over 'racist remark' Referring to the licence fee, BBC Chair Samir Shah says in the annual report: 'The fight is on, and it is vital we now think very carefully about the kind of media environment we want for the UK.' He added they were searching for 'the best future funding model for the BBC'. Shah said: 'I have already set out some views on this and the board will be saying more over the coming months,' he said. Masterchef meltdown as BBC asked John Torode to RESIGN over 'racist remark' before Gregg Wallace sacking 'But all of us are clear that we want to make sure we protect the BBC as a universal service and help it not just to survive, but thrive, for a generation and more.' Licence fee income increased slightly year on year, totalling £3.8bn in 2024-25. However, the small rise was down to the 6.7% inflationary increase in the fee to £169.50 a year. 'The current collection method remains fair, effective, and good value for money,' the report said. 'As we approach the end of the charter, we will proactively research how we might reform the licence fee to secure the benefits of a well-resourced, universal BBC of scale for the long term.' 'Inappropriate behaviours' Today's report also features a column by Dr Shah in which he references the "profoundly shocking revelations" involving disgraced News At Ten anchor Huw Edwards. He announced in October the Beeb's board had commissioned an independent review into its "workplace culture". It came in the wake of Edwards, as well as "several further cases of inappropriate behaviours and abuses of power", Dr Shah wrote. Top 10 earners at the BBC Gary Lineker - £1.35million Zoe Ball - £515,000 - cut from £950,000 Alan Shearer - £440,000 - up from £380,000 Greg James - £425,000 - up from £415,000 Fiona Bruce - £410,000 - up from £405,000 AND Nick Robinson - £410,000 - up from £345,000 Stephen Nolan - £405,000 Laura Kuenssberg - £395,000 - up from £325,000 Vernon Kay - £390,000 - up from £320,000 Justin Webb - £365,000 - up from £320,000 Naga Munchetty - £355,000 - up from £345,000 In his column, he added: "The first thing to say is that the BBC is a wonderful place to work. "Our staff are dedicated, hardworking and treat each other with respect. "However, there are pockets in the organisation where this is not the case. There are still places where powerful individuals - on and off-screen - can abuse that power to make life for their colleagues unbearable." It comes after former MasterChef host Wallace launched a scathing attack on the broadcaster and threatened his "next move" yesterday after he was sacked. The one-time greengrocer turned TV personality, 60, was axed after an investigation upheld 45 out of the 83 allegations made against him. The bombshell inquiry, carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin for production company Banijay, unveiled a litany of complaints against him. Most of them involved inappropriate sexual language and humour and a further 10 were made about other people - two of which were substantiated. Davie was also asked today about whether Wallace's co-host John Torode would remain on the show, after the presenter confirmed on Instagram he had a standalone allegation of racist language upheld in the same report. The director-general said: "There has to be follow-up, so the BBC, in some ways, we're quite simple on this, if someone is found to not live up to the values we expect, the independent company, Banijay, in this case, to take action and report back to us on what they have done. "These aren't BBC employees, but we absolutely expect action to be taken, that's the first thing I'd say." 'Get a grip quicker' Last week BBC bosses were told to "get a grip quicker" after the live stream of punk rap duo Bob Vylan's Glastonbury set was left on air despite controversial comments which some interpreted as antisemitic. Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes insisted there is a risk the public lose faith in the corporation if coverage isn't pulled swiftly and investigations are lengthy. The broadcaster had apologised after the band's lead singer chanted 'death, death' to Israeli defence forces during their festival set last month. The regulator also stepped in to launch a probe into Beeb doc Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, which faced backlash when it was revealed the narrator was the son of a Hamas official. The BBC previously admitted to breaching their own editorial guidelines by failing to disclose this to viewers. An independent probe into the documentary was commissioned by the broadcaster earlier this year. The broadcaster spent £400,000 of licence payers' cash making the doc, which was branded a propaganda show for the evil terror group Hamas, The Sun revealed in February. In a shocking revelation, the main narrator of the heart-tugging, supposedly factual exposé - 13-year-old Abdulla Eliyazour - was the son of senior Hamas official Dr Ayman Al-Yazouri. 6 Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC, has seen his pay rise despite controversies Credit: Getty 6 Punk Duo Bob Vylan during the controversial Glastonbury set on Saturday Credit: PA 6 Gregg said he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' Credit: Pixel8000
The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Everything to know about the BBC's Gaza, Glastonbury and Gregg Wallace
The corporation will highlight its successes over the past year and disclose the pay of its top talent, but focus is likely to be on a storm of stories about the BBC's shows and coverage of live events. THE BBC is to face questions on Gregg Wallace, its Glastonbury Festival coverage and the Gaza : How To Survive A Warzone documentary as it prepares to release its 2024/2025 annual report. It comes after Ofcom announced it would investigate the BBC's Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary after a review found it had breached the corporation's editorial guidelines on accuracy. The regulator said it had examined the BBC report and would be investigating under its broadcasting code, which states factual programmes 'must not materially mislead the audience'. READ MORE: Steph Paton: It took six months for my MP to meet me. If only I had been an arms firm The programme was removed from BBC iPlayer in February after it emerged that the child narrator, Abdullah, is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture. An Ofcom spokesperson said: 'Having examined the BBC's findings, we are launching an investigation under our rule which states that factual programmes must not materially mislead the audience.' The review, conducted by Peter Johnston, the director of editorial complaints and reviews, which is independent of BBC News, said the programme was in breach of accuracy for 'failing to disclose information about the child narrator's father's position within the Hamas-run government'. But the review found no other breaches of editorial guidelines, including breaches of impartiality, and also found no evidence that outside interests 'inappropriately impacted on the programme'. The latest on Gregg Wallace The BBC will also face scrutiny after a total of 45 out of the 83 allegations of misconduct made against former MasterChef presenter Wallace during his time on the show were substantiated, including one allegation of 'unwelcome physical contact', in a report following an investigation into his behaviour. On Monday, Wallace's MasterChef co-host John Torode confirmed he had a standalone allegation of racist language upheld in the same report. He said had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation in an Instagram post. In November 2024 the show's production company, Banijay UK, announced Wallace would step away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. The report concluded that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour', adding that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated'. Glastonbury 2025 live coverage Also expected to be on the agenda is coverage of Glastonbury, which saw the broadcaster livestream a set by punk duo Bob Vylan, during which singer Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, led crowds in chants of 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. Director-general Tim Davie confirmed on Monday that staff at the festival had the authority to cut the stream Avon and Somerset Police have since launched an investigation into the group's set with the BBC issuing an apology for the live stream, and promising to no longer broadcast live acts they deem 'high risk' as they had with Bob Vylan in a pre-festival assessment. The Ipswich-formed duo, who are completed by drummer Bobbie Vylan, are also being investigated by the Met Police for alleged comments in a video of their performance supporting Iggy Pop at Alexandra Palace in May. In the video, Vylan appears to say: 'Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.' According to reports in The Times, the BBC's director of music Lorna Clarke was among a group of senior staff who have stepped back from their day-to-day roles after the broadcaster's decision to show Bob Vylan's set live. BBC staff salary update The salary of former Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker is expected to be included in the report, after he left his presenting role early following a social media row after he shared a post about Zionism which featured a depiction of a rat, historically an antisemitic insult. Lineker, who issued an unreserved apology, was the BBC's highest-paid presenter until his departure, with the annual report for 2023/24 showing his salary to be to around £1.35 million a year. The presenter will no longer front the BBC's coverage of the 2026 World Cup or the FA Cup next season, with his final appearance on Match Of The Day at the end of the last Premier League season. It comes as it was announced that Davie and BBC chairman Samir Shah will face questions from MPs over the documentary, Wallace, and its Glastonbury coverage. The two will appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on September 9.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
MasterChef meltdown as BBC asked John Torode to RESIGN over ‘racist remark' before Gregg Wallace sacking
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE BBC asked John Torode to resign from MasterChef after he was accused of racism and told him to claim he had mental health issues, it was claimed last night. It comes after the stunned Australian chef was dragged into the Gregg Wallace report. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 The BBC asked John Torode to resign from MasterChef Credit: BBC 6 Gregg Wallace with co-host John Torode on MasterChef Credit: PA 6 The latest series has been delayed amid the allegations against Gregg Wallace Credit: Getty He was cited - but not named - in the damning dossier over an incident dating back over eight years in which he made an allegedly racist remark during a private conversation. The popular star, who has hosted the BBC1 show since 2005, was informed about the allegation - which did not receive a complaint at the time - which was raised with investigators. However, in a farcical turn of events, the BBC was unable to specify the time or date of the alleged offence, narrowing it down to '2018 or 2019.' Shockingly, the BBC and production company Banijay asked John, 59, to resign last week - and claim he had mental health problems. Stunned John refused. Last night John issued a statement to The Sun confirming he was involved in the report. He told how he intended to cause no offence and apologised immediately after the alleged incident. He said: 'Following publication of the Executive Summary of the Investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld. 'For the sake of transparency I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. 'The allegation is that I did so sometime between 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards. 'Devastated' Gregg Wallace FIRED by BBC over MasterChef sexual comments 'I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. 'However, I want to be clear that I've always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. 'I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.' It is understood that this one-off incident was the only issue raised involving John, and nothing else was found in relation to him in the report issued yesterday by lawyers Lewis Silkin. Last night a source close to added: 'John is absolutely devastated to have been pulled into this mess. 'He was at an afterwork drinks after filming when he is alleged to have used an inappropriate racial term, the witness said he apologised instantly, and he was mortified. 'The witness even stated he didn't use the term as a slur. No-one complained at the time, but it's been brought up during the inquiry. 'Shockingly he was only made aware of the incident two weeks ago and was only informed on Friday that it would be upheld. 'The BBC called John over the weekend to inform him of the report, and asked him to step back. They ambushed him, and it was suggested he quit due to the stress and scrutiny of the furore around the show. 'Obviously he was absolutely shocked and appalled and told them quite firmly that he didn't have any mental health issues. To try and use mental health as a get-out clause seems incredibly low - and is also deeply unfair to those with genuine mental health trauma. 'This was also the first he'd heard about this incident, and no-one could even confirm if the night out happened in 2018 or 19 - it's an absolute joke and feels like complete hearsay. 'John absolutely loves MasterChef, and doesn't want to lose his job because of an investigation into his co-star. 'As Gregg has pointed out broadcasting is becoming a dangerous place especially when there is no concrete evidence. 'If the BBC let him go for this, where will it all end? There will soon be no-one left on telly.' In the report, 45 of 83 complaints about co-star Gregg Wallace's bad behaviour had been upheld, leading to his sacking last week. One included unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress. The under-fire host, 60, yesterday apologised, saying he 'never set out to harm or humiliate'. In total, the report says 83 allegations were made against Wallace, with the majority of the substantiated claims relating to inappropriate sexual language and humour, but also culturally insensitive or racist comments. The inquiry, conducted by an independent law firm, was ordered by Banijay in the wake of a BBC News investigation which first revealed claims of inappropriate sexual comments against Wallace. Yesterday the Prime Minister said he 'welcomed' the BBC cutting ties with Gregg Wallace - and demanded action to end future 'abuses of power'. The PM's spokesman said he still has 'confidence' in the Corporation but that it must take steps to 'ensure the public retains trust'. He said: 'In relation to the Greg Wallace report. I think, as we've previously said, those allegations were very serious, deeply concerning, and it's right that a thorough investigation has been conducted. 'We welcome the fact that the BBC severed ties with Greg Wallace, and we're clear that appropriate steps must be taken to ensure abuses of power are prevented from happening in the future.' Tory shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew said: 'While the full extent of the issues may not have been known at the time, there were clear missed opportunities by both the production behind MasterChef and the BBC to address concerning behaviour. That is not acceptable.' A decision has not been made yet about whether the beleaguered corporation will air the new series of MasterChef which was filmed last year. Monday's report revealed allegations against Wallace across a 19-year period. It also says that 10 standalone allegations were made against other people, two of which were substantiated. Both of those substantiated allegations , which did not involve Wallace, relate to inappropriate language, one of swearing and one of racist language. The latter, The Sun can now confirm, relates to Torode. The report also said that during the course of the investigation, Wallace was diagnosed with autism, writing: 'The findings made should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity.' Gregg hit back in his statement yesterday, promising there would be 'more casualties' as he launched a scathing attack on the BBC. He said: 'I never set out to harm or humiliate. I always tried to bring warmth and support to MasterChef, on screen and off. 'After nearly 20 years on the show, I now see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I've only recently begun to understand, may have been misread. 'A late autism diagnosis has helped me understand how I communicate and how I'm perceived. 'I'm still learning. Banijay have given me great support, and I thank them. 'But in the end, the BBC left me exposed to trial by media and the damage it leaves in its wake. 'To those who've shown kindness, thank you. It mattered. This has been brutal. 'I was the headline this time. But I won't be the last. There will be more casualties if the BBC continues down this path, where protecting its legacy matters more than protecting people. For my part, with full legal support, I will consider my next move.' After taking on Rottweiler lawyer Dan Morrison, he is now expected to sue the BBC. The boss of Banijay, Patrick Holland, also apologised to all involved, and said that although the report findings made for what he said was 'uncomfortable reading' they had highlighted important failures. He said they were already addressing them through training, reviewing welfare procedures and would be rolling out an 'externally run whistle blowing service' across all of their productions. What were the main findings of the report? FORTY-five allegations made against Gregg Wallace during his time on MasterChef, including one of "unwelcome physical contact", were found to have been substantiated. An independent report commissioned by production company Banijay assessed 83 allegations against Wallace. The report substantiated: - Twelve claims he made inappropriate jokes and innuendo; - Sixteen reports he made sexually explicit comments; - Two allegations that he made sexualised comments to or about someone; - Four complaints that he made culturally insensitive or racist comments; - Three claims that he was in a state of undress; - Seven allegations of bullying; - One allegation of unwanted touching. The allegations span from 2005 to 2024. 6 Gregg has been axed from the show following an investigation into his behaviour Credit: BBC 6 Gregg will no longer be working for the BBC Credit: BBC
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
MasterChef meltdown as BBC asked John Torode to RESIGN over ‘racist remark' before Gregg Wallace sacking
THE BBC asked John Torode to resign from MasterChef after he was accused of racism and told him to claim he had mental health issues, it was claimed last night. It comes after the stunned Australian chef was dragged into the Gregg Wallace report. 6 The BBC asked John Torode to resign from MasterChef Credit: BBC 6 Gregg Wallace with co-host John Torode on MasterChef Credit: PA 6 The latest series has been delayed amid the allegations against Gregg Wallace Credit: Getty He was cited - but not named - in the damning dossier over an incident dating back over eight years in which he made an allegedly racist remark during a private conversation. The popular star, who has hosted the BBC1 show since 2005, was informed about the allegation - which did not receive a complaint at the time - which was raised with investigators. However, in a farcical turn of events, the BBC was unable to specify the time or date of the alleged offence, narrowing it down to '2018 or 2019.' Shockingly, the BBC and production company Banijay asked John, 59, to resign last week - and claim he had mental health problems. Stunned John refused. Read more TV News Last night John issued a statement to The Sun confirming he was involved in the report. He told how he intended to cause no offence and apologised immediately after the alleged incident. He said: 'Following publication of the Executive Summary of the Investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld. 'For the sake of transparency I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. 'The allegation is that I did so sometime between 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards. Most read in News TV 'Devastated' Gregg Wallace FIRED by BBC over MasterChef sexual comments 'I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. 'However, I want to be clear that I've always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. 'I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.' It is understood that this one-off incident was the only issue raised involving John, and nothing else was found in relation to him in the report issued yesterday by lawyers Lewis Silkin. Last night a source close to added: 'John is absolutely devastated to have been pulled into this mess. 'He was at an afterwork drinks after filming when he is alleged to have used an inappropriate racial term, the witness said he apologised instantly, and he was mortified. 'The witness even stated he didn't use the term as a slur. No-one complained at the time, but it's been brought up during the inquiry. 'Shockingly he was only made aware of the incident two weeks ago and was only informed on Friday that it would be upheld. 'The BBC called John over the weekend to inform him of the report, and asked him to step back. They ambushed him, and it was suggested he quit due to the stress and scrutiny of the furore around the show. 'Obviously he was absolutely shocked and appalled and told them quite firmly that he didn't have any mental health issues. To try and use mental health as a get-out clause seems incredibly low - and is also deeply unfair to those with genuine mental health trauma. 'This was also the first he'd heard about this incident, and no-one could even confirm if the night out happened in 2018 or 19 - it's an absolute joke and feels like complete hearsay. 'John absolutely loves MasterChef, and doesn't want to lose his job because of an investigation into his co-star. 'As Gregg has pointed out broadcasting is becoming a dangerous place especially when there is no concrete evidence. 'If the BBC let him go for this, where will it all end? There will soon be no-one left on telly.' In the report, 45 of 83 complaints about co-star Gregg Wallace's bad behaviour had been upheld, leading to his sacking last week. One included unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress. The under-fire host, 60, yesterday apologised, saying he 'never set out to harm or humiliate'. In total, the report says 83 allegations were made against Wallace, with the majority of the substantiated claims relating to inappropriate sexual language and humour, but also culturally insensitive or racist comments. The inquiry, conducted by an independent law firm, was ordered by Banijay in the wake of a BBC News investigation which first revealed claims of inappropriate sexual comments against Wallace. Yesterday the Prime Minister said he 'welcomed' the BBC cutting ties with Gregg Wallace - and demanded action to end future 'abuses of power'. The PM's spokesman said he still has 'confidence' in the Corporation but that it must take steps to 'ensure the public retains trust'. He said: 'In relation to the Greg Wallace report. I think, as we've previously said, those allegations were very serious, deeply concerning, and it's right that a thorough investigation has been conducted. 'We welcome the fact that the BBC severed ties with Greg Wallace, and we're clear that appropriate steps must be taken to ensure abuses of power are prevented from happening in the future.' Tory shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew said: 'While the full extent of the issues may not have been known at the time, there were clear missed opportunities by both the production behind MasterChef and the BBC to address concerning behaviour. That is not acceptable.' A decision has not been made yet about whether the beleaguered corporation will air the new series of MasterChef which was filmed last year. Monday's report revealed allegations against Wallace across a 19-year period. It also says that 10 standalone allegations were made against other people, two of which were substantiated. Both of those substantiated allegations , which did not involve Wallace, relate to inappropriate language, one of swearing and one of racist language. The latter, The Sun can now confirm, relates to Torode. The report also said that during the course of the investigation, Wallace was diagnosed with autism, writing: 'The findings made should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity.' Gregg hit back in his statement yesterday, promising there would be 'more casualties' as he launched a scathing attack on the BBC. He said: 'I never set out to harm or humiliate. I always tried to bring warmth and support to MasterChef, on screen and off. 'After nearly 20 years on the show, I now see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I've only recently begun to understand, may have been misread. 'A late autism diagnosis has helped me understand how I communicate and how I'm perceived. 'I'm still learning. Banijay have given me great support, and I thank them. 'But in the end, the BBC left me exposed to trial by media and the damage it leaves in its wake. 'To those who've shown kindness, thank you. It mattered. This has been brutal. 'I was the headline this time. But I won't be the last. There will be more casualties if the BBC continues down this path, where protecting its legacy matters more than protecting people. For my part, with full legal support, I will consider my next move.' After taking on Rottweiler lawyer Dan Morrison, he is now expected to sue the BBC. The boss of Banijay, Patrick Holland, also apologised to all involved, and said that although the report findings made for what he said was 'uncomfortable reading' they had highlighted important failures. He said they were already addressing them through training, reviewing welfare procedures and would be rolling out an 'externally run whistle blowing service' across all of their productions. What were the main findings of the report? FORTY-five allegations made against Gregg Wallace during his time on MasterChef, including one of "unwelcome physical contact", were found to have been substantiated. An independent report commissioned by production company Banijay assessed 83 allegations against Wallace. The report substantiated: - Twelve claims he made inappropriate jokes and innuendo; - Sixteen reports he made sexually explicit comments; - Two allegations that he made sexualised comments to or about someone; - Four complaints that he made culturally insensitive or racist comments; - Three claims that he was in a state of undress; - Seven allegations of bullying; - One allegation of unwanted touching. The allegations span from 2005 to 2024. 6 Gregg has been axed from the show following an investigation into his behaviour Credit: BBC 6 Gregg will no longer be working for the BBC Credit: BBC 6 John and wife Lisa are authors of John & Lisa's Kitchen
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘We'll never work with him again', blast BBC as Gregg Wallace report reveals ‘substantial' allegations over 19 YEARS
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE BBC has said it will "never work" with Gregg Wallace again as a bombshell report revealed a "substantial" number of allegations across 19 years. The MasterChef star, 60, who was diagnosed as autistic midway through the investigation into complaints against him, was sacked after the BBC concluded he is unable to change his ways. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 11 The BBC has released its bombshell report into disgraced Gregg Wallace's misconduct Credit: PA 11 Gregg was diagnosed as autistic midway through the investigation into complaints against him Credit: @greggawallace/TikTok 11 Gregg vowed he would not 'go quietly' Credit: Instagram 11 Gregg claims he's been discriminated against due to his autism Now the findings of a long investigation into 30 historic complaints were unveiled today in a report. The Beeb's report, seen by the presenter, also references reputational damage to the corporation in light of comments he has made about them since he was taken off air. The corporation said the possibility of Gregg returning to MasterChef was "untenable". A "final decision" on whether the latest season of the show will be aired will "not be made at this stage", the BBC added. The Beeb also said it takes the "findings very seriously" and will prioritise addressing "two further allegations" upheld against Gregg. The full statement read: "We welcome the publication of the findings by Lewis Silkin, following the investigation into the conduct of Gregg Wallace. "In light of these findings, Banijay UK and the BBC have agreed Mr Wallace's return to MasterChef is untenable. "The BBC has informed Mr Wallace we have no plans to work with him in future. "The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years. "This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us. What did the report find? FORTY-five allegations made against Gregg Wallace during his time on MasterChef, including one of "unwelcome physical contact", were found to have been substantiated. An independent report commissioned by production company Banijay assessed 83 allegations against Wallace. The report substantiated: - Twelve claims he made inappropriate jokes and innuendo; - Sixteen reports he made sexually explicit comments; - Two allegations that he made sexualised comments to or about someone; - Four complaints that he made culturally insensitive or racist comments; - Three claims that he was in a state of undress; - Seven allegations of bullying; - One allegation of unwanted touching. The allegations span from 2005 to 2024. "Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. "We accept more could and should have been done sooner. "We want to thank all those who took part in the investigation, including those who first raised concerns directly with the BBC in November last year. "We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace's behaviour. "Lewis Silkin's findings include two further allegations which were upheld, relating to other individuals. "The BBC takes these findings very seriously and we have asked Banijay UK to take action to address these issues, which is underway. This will be completed as a priority. "The BBC will not be commenting further at this stage, but we are clear we expect the highest standards of respect at work to be upheld on the production. "At this stage we are not going to make a final decision on the broadcast of the series that was filmed last year. "We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part and at the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants. "In April the BBC published a detailed response to an independent review of workplace culture, which reinforces expectations around behaviour and that we will act more decisively when standards are not met. "This also requires all TV production partners to align with the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) standards. "We want to reaffirm, there is no place for the abuse of power, unacceptable behaviour or language at the BBC, or shows made for the BBC.' While Gregg angrily slammed the BBC in his Instagram post on Monday, promising 'not to go quietly', the corporation have been keen to distance themselves from the presenter, saying he was not technically an employee. 11 Allegations against the Masterchef star date back to 2017 Credit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun 11 The findings of the seven-month investigation were published in a 200-page report Credit: Rex 11 Gregg has been axed from the show following an investigation into his behaviour Credit: BBC 11 Gregg will no longer be working for the BBC Credit: BBC A source said: 'Gregg received his letter telling him his Masterchef job was gone and that, effectively, his 21 year tenure at the BBC is also over. "He's obviously in a pretty bad way, and hasn't been sleeping at all these past few days. But he's also incredibly angry, and feels his autism has been used against him - production company are basically saying he is incapable of change. "'Learned behaviour' - presumably from his years down the markets as a greengrocer - was given as a main factor for his inappropriate actions and language. "But given that a different production first raised concerns about his neurodivergence in 2018, and the word 'odd' also appears through the 200 page report against him, he feels his autism is being used against him. 'The report states the company has a duty of care towards both him and the public - as well as contributors and crew - and that it is clear he 'struggles to distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.' They therefore say they cannot guarantee a safe working environment if he is on a show. 'He is really angry the complaints against him came before he was put on a course in 2019. He therefore feels they are discriminating against his autism; that effectively they cannot accommodate a disabled person.' There has been a massive backlash from the appalled public, slamming the fallen star as being "completely offensive" for using autism as an excuse for his behaviour. Others told him "how dare you" and said "it's an insult". The Times reported Gregg's friends as saying his autism means he can't wear underwear. Charities have also blasted the axed star, telling him it is not a "free pass for bad behaviour". The Sun revealed Gregg's clinical team proposed clear accommodations, shared directly with the BBC, outlining how a supportive environment could be achieved. He believes the BBC have chosen to ignore this. The star has taken on bullish lawyer Dan Morrison - the man who represented Nigel Farage against NatWest. He could now take Banijay and the BBC to tribunal. Gregg has hosted Masterchef alongside John Torode since 2005 and has also fronted other BBC programmes including Inside the Factory and Supermarket Secrets. In late 2024, it was reported that the BBC had been made aware of complaints as far back as 2017, while it was claimed that a letter had been sent to the broadcaster in 2022 stating that women had been made to feel 'uncomfortable' in his presence. However, he has been cleared of a number of the most serious allegations, including those against high profile complainants including Kirsty Wark and Penny Lancaster. It comes after The Sun revealed the disgraced star called co-stars "sexy" 135 times on social media. Not only this, but he called a former MasterChef winner and a BBC presenter a "sexy b***h" - with the post yet to be removed. He called 2012 MasterChef winner Shelina Permalloo a "sexy b***h' and "sexy girl'. In one exchange, he said: "Hello mate, how you doing? Sexy b***h!" He also called former BBC Breakfast presenter Penny Haslam, whom he knows from them both being ambassadors for WeightWatchers, a "sexy b***h". In total, on his X page, Gregg calls people - men and women - "sexy' over 135 times. This includes MasterChef finalist Angela Langford, MasterChef judge Monica Galetti, and interior designer Kelly Hoppen. As well as This Morning's Alison Hammond, Bake Off's Paul Hollywood and former Page 3 model Linda Lusardi, whom he also called a "sexy girl". John Torode is constantly called 'sexy' - and his wife Lisa Faulkner "hot point' and 'pretty". Gregg has always claimed his behaviour isn't harassment, yet ex-Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir publicly called him out for saying "sexy b***h' to her face. The TV host claims he was cleared of all the serious allegations in the BBC probe, including accusations of groping. The BBC later said 50 more people had approached the broadcaster with fresh claims about the MasterChef star, including allegations of sexual misconduct. Wallace denies the claims. With Gregg's sacking from the BBC revealed this week, he released a statement online. He wrote: "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." He claims that the stress led to him being taken to hospital with a suspected heart attack after two days of agonising chest pains. 11 Gregg Wallace on 'Follow That Tomato' in the 2000s Credit: Rex 11 Gregg has hosted Masterchef since 2005 Credit: BBC
