Ex-MasterChef host ‘sorry’ but says he’s ‘not a groper’

Noor Nanji & Steven McIntoshCulture reportersBBCAn unbiased overview upheld 45 allegations in opposition to Wallace regarding his behaviour on MasterChefFormer MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has stated he’s “so sorry” to anybody he damage, however insisted that he’s “not a groper, a intercourse pest or a flasher”.In a brand new interview with The Solar, the TV presenter additionally defended his sacked co-host John Torode, saying he’s “not a racist”.Wallace was sacked earlier this month after a report upheld 45 allegations about his behaviour on the programme, together with certainly one of unwelcome bodily contact and three of being in a state of undress.Torode was additionally axed after a declare in opposition to him utilizing “an especially offensive racist time period” was upheld. He has stated he has “no recollection” of the incident.The inquiry, carried out by an unbiased legislation agency, was ordered by MasterChef’s manufacturing firm Banijay within the wake of a BBC Information investigation final yr, which first revealed claims of misconduct in opposition to Wallace.Since then, greater than 50 folks have come ahead to BBC Information with claims in opposition to him.They embrace allegations he groped one MasterChef employee at a wrap occasion and pulled his trousers down in entrance of one other.Nearly all of substantiated claims in opposition to Wallace associated to inappropriate sexual language and humour, but in addition culturally insensitive or racist feedback.In his first interview since being sacked, the presenter acknowledged that he had stated issues that “offended folks, that weren’t socially acceptable and maybe they felt too intimidated or nervous to say something on the time.”I perceive that now – and to anybody I’ve damage, I’m so sorry.”He indicated his background was accountable for these feedback, as a former greengrocer from Peckham working in an surroundings that was “jovial and crude”.However he added: “I am not a groper. Folks suppose I have been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I’m not a flasher.”Folks suppose I am a intercourse pest. I’m not.”Wallace stated that one of many upheld claims in opposition to him associated to a extensively reported incident through which he had allegedly walked round MasterChef’s set bare with a sock on his penis.Addressing that incident, he stated that there have been no contestants on set, and simply 4 of his pals from the present exterior his dressing room door.”I used to be getting modified to go to a black tie occasion, a charity occasion. I put my bow tie on and my shirt. It is solely them exterior the door. I put the sock on, opened the door, went, ‘Wahey!’ and shut the door once more.”The folks interviewed had been both amused or bemused. No one was distressed,” he claimed.Autism defenceAhead of the report’s publication earlier this month, Wallace posted a now-deleted assertion on Instagram through which he appeared to hyperlink the misconduct allegations he was dealing with to his latest autism prognosis.That led to a backlash from charities and teams working with disabled folks. One charity instructed BBC Information that autism is “not a free cross for dangerous behaviour”, whereas different teams warned that such remarks risked stigmatising the autistic group.In his interview on Friday night time, Wallace spoke once more about his prognosis, saying: “I do know I wrestle to learn folks. I do know folks discover me bizarre. Autism is a incapacity, a registered incapacity.”He additionally repeated a declare that he “by no means [wears] pants”, saying: “It is not sexualised. It is hypersensitivity – that occurs with autism.”The BBC has stated a beforehand filmed collection that includes Wallace and Torode will nonetheless be broadcast as plannedLast week, Wallace’s co-host Torode was sacked after an allegation of utilizing a severely offensive racist time period was upheld.BBC Information has since revealed that the alleged incident came about on the set of MasterChef in 2018.Torode has stated any racist language is “wholly unacceptable”.Addressing the declare in opposition to his co-host, Wallace stated: “I’ve recognized John for 30 years and he’s not a racist.”And as proof of that, I am going to present you the unimaginable range of the those that he has championed, MasterChef winners, over time. There isn’t a method that man is a racist. No method. And my sympathies exit to John as a result of I do not need anyone to undergo what I have been by means of.”However he added that he had unfollowed Torode and his spouse Lisa Faulkner on social media, saying: “We by no means actually did get on that properly.”We’re two very, very totally different characters.”Earlier this week, the BBC introduced {that a} new collection of MasterChef, which was recorded earlier than Wallace and Torode had been sacked, will nonetheless be broadcast as deliberate, on BBC One and iPlayer.A number of the ladies who got here ahead with claims in opposition to Wallace have stated they didn’t suppose the brand new collection must be proven.One former MasterChef employee, who claims he groped her, instructed BBC Information the choice to go forward confirmed “a blatant disregard for the individuals who have come ahead”.The BBC stated it had taken the choice “after cautious consideration and session with the contestants”.It added it has not but taken a choice on what to do with the finished movie star collection and Christmas particular.