MasterChef presenter John Torode spoke about Gregg Wallace's behaviour to production officials, a report has claimed.
Gregg Wallace has currently stepped back from his role on the show after 'historical allegations of misconduct' were made against him from multiple individuals.
Since then, further claims have been made against Wallace, including allegations that he groped multiple women, thrust his groin at a MasterChef contestant, and walked into a BBC studio naked except for a sock on his genitals.
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Production company Banijay UK have launched an investigation into Wallace, and his co-star John Torode said it was 'truly upsetting' that people might have come on MasterChef and not had a great experience.
Wallace's legal representatives have said 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature', and the TV presenter released a series of videos where he hit out at 'middle class women of a certain age' before apologising for offence he might have caused.
Now, The Sun reports that Torode 'repeatedly raised concerns' with officials from production company Banijay UK about Wallace's behaviour on MasterChef.
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The Australian chef had previously said 'we've never been friends' of his relationship with Wallace, and now The Sun claims that 'sources' told them that Torode was 'aware of some of Gregg's less savoury behaviour' but 'did not condone it, and nor did he engage with it'.
The paper claims that Torode 'repeatedly flagged [Wallace's] behaviour and poor-taste remarks to execs on set' through a series of 'spoken concerns', and did not raise a formal complaint with production officials.
Their source then claimed that Torode didn't know whether there was a written record of concerns he had raised, but alleged that he got the feeling 'bosses needed to protect the MasterChef brand at all costs, and that meant turning a blind eye' to Wallace's behaviour.
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In a statement he made on Instagram which has also been shared by his wife, Torode wrote: "Since last Friday I have been away filming MasterChef overseas. I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it.
“During the last few days, I’ve been trying to make the best cookery programme, so being busy making the show and caring for our contestants has allowed me little time to think about anything else, but that has been hard.
“But as I hope everyone appreciates there is an investigation underway, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.”
LADbible have contacted Banijay UK and a representative of John Torode for comment.
Topics: Gregg Wallace, TV, Entertainment, BBC
Joe Harker