MasterChef's festive specials have been axed after host Gregg Wallace stepped back amid a probe into claims of inappropriate behaviour. The 60-year-old TV star is embroiled in controversy with allegations of making lewd sexual remarks and racial slurs on the hit BBC series.
Several women have also come forward alleging sexual misconduct and groping by Wallace, who has strongly denied these accusations. His lawyer stated: "It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature".
Despite the ongoing investigation, the BBC has faced criticism for not pulling the current MasterChef The Professionals series off air. However, it's now confirmed that the planned Christmas episodes are scrapped, with alternative programming scheduled instead.
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READ MORE: MasterChef special episodes axed as BBC make statement amid Gregg Wallace probe
On Monday, December 23, viewers expecting Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off will get Celeb Escape To The Country, while the MasterChef Meets Strictly Festive Extravaganza set for Monday, December 30, will be replaced by Repair Shop Favourite Fixes.
The Beeb's got itself in hot water after deciding to carry on with "MasterChef The Professionals" broadcasts, despite the uproar. A spokesperson from the BBC told The Sun: "As we have said, MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the chefs taking part and the current series of MasterChef: The Professionals is continuing as planned. The celebrity Christmas specials are obviously a different type of show and in the current circumstances we have decided not to broadcast them.", reports the Mirror.
Labour MP Rupa Huq chimed in, saying airing the show could be "triggering" for some women making allegations against him. She argued that pulling the episode would send a strong message and show that the BBC was taking the situation seriously.
Things kicked off even more after Gregg Wallace's defence video on Sunday, in which he seemed to blame "middle-class women of a certain age" for his crisis.
One viewer tweeted: "As a #MiddleClassWomanOfaCertainAge paying the license fee in this household, @BBCOne shouldn't be showing #MasterChef @MasterChefUK this evening."
Another punt on social media moaned: "Shame Gregg Wallace couldn't be edited out, even a bit." Other viewers chimed in with their own reactions, with one saying: "No acknowledgment whatsoever."
Another posted: "It's impossible for me to watch #MasterChef and not think 'You absolute t**t Wallace! '" A different viewer shared: "After the revelations of the last few days I'm finding Gregg Wallace more irritating than usual."
Meanwhile, one viewer joked: "Warning: this programme may contain traces of Gregg Wallace."
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