TV legend Carol Vorderman has shared a cryptic social media post amid the ongoing investigation into Gregg Wallace's alleged behaviour on set of MasterChef.
Wallace, 60, - who has taken a step away from presenting the BBC cooking show - has had historical allegations of misconduct issued against him which are currently being externally reviewed.
The MasterChef star, who issued a social media statement on Monday, also faces fresh claims of harassment, including touching a woman's bottom at an event and pressing his crotch against another one while filming on a different show - allegations he strongly denies.
His lawyers previously said it was "entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature" and Wallace has vehemently denied all allegations made against him. Now, former Countdown star Carol, 63, has shared her opinion on the allegations made against Wallace. The TV presenter insisted that 'things like this don't happen just once' as she out at toxic TV culture.
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greggawallace/Instagram)Taking to Threads, she wrote: "People always know. Things like this don't happen just once....ever. There is always a pattern. And others knew and did nothing. As they say in a wider context. The only thing necessary for evil (bad things) to triumph is for good people to do NOTHING."
It comes after Carol revealed she was sacked from a show after complaining about bad behaviour. The former Countdown presenter warns allegations of misconduct made about Wallace are the tip of the iceberg in an industry riddled with systemic issues. She said: “It’s about keeping people down, particularly women. And it’s not just Gregg Wallace. This kind of behaviour is widespread, and it’s been happening for years.”
The star recalled an incident where, after making a complaint about inappropriate behaviour on a show, she was never invited back. She said: “I’ve made complaints, you may not be surprised to hear, about various people. Well, obviously, I get sacked. But even in the last couple of years – I can’t tell you which show it was – but I complained about someone, and after that I never appeared again. It’s still happening today.”
During her long telly career, Carol says she has witnessed first-hand the ingrained culture of protecting stars while overlooking the mistreatment of those beneath them. She said: “You get this pattern of people being too scared to speak up. If you’re the first one to make a complaint, you’re branded a troublemaker, and it’s incredibly difficult to get heard. People are scared to lose their jobs, especially when you’re just starting out. If you stick your head above the parapet, you risk everything.”
Carol is also acutely aware of the challenges facing younger women trying to make it in television and she says female colleagues have often turned to her for help navigating abusive and exploitative practices in the industry. She says: “I get a lot of women coming to Auntie Carol for advice – younger women in TV who just want to know how to survive. I tell them, ‘You’ve got to play the game, even if it’s not right’. But it’s hard, and it’s not just about sexual harassment. It’s a culture that keeps women down and hides the truth.”
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