Gregg Wallace accused of asking BSL translator to sign ‘big boobs’ to live audience

Gregg Wallace is currently facing accusations of sexual misconduct (Image: BBC)

Gregg Wallace allegedly asked a British Sign Language interpreter to sign “big boobs” and “sexy bum” in front of a live audience at a live show, according to reports.

Last week, the TV judge stepped aside from MasterChef after 19 years as he faces allegations of sexual misconduct on several cooking programmes.

The 60-year-old presenter is facing accusations of using inappropriate sexual comments during his time on several BBC cooking shows with at least 13 women have stepped forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

The dad-of-three has vehemently denied all allegations against him, with his lawyers insisting: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”

Now, an audience member who was at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEX Arena in Birmingham in 2012 claims Wallace had asked the interpreter to sign the inappropriate comments, according to The Guardian.

He is now facing claims of inappropriate comments on tour (Image: BPM)

The newspaper claims the woman who was in the audience said she was “appalled and aghast” at “sexist” behaviour by the TV presenter during the live event in front of approximately 400 people.

They told the outlet: “There was a British Sign Language interpreter there [for deaf audience members] and he wandered over to her at one point and just said, ‘Do you have to sign everything I say?’ and she said, ‘Yes’.

“And then he just started saying, ‘Big boobs’, ‘sexy bum’ - this sort of thing, in order to get her to sign it. It was like he could control her, I suppose.

“The BSL interpreter is there to interpret what is being said for dead people. They’re not there as a source of entertainment. I just found that deeply disrespectful to [her] and deeply disrespectful to her profession.”

The broadcaster stepped away from MasterChef last week (Image: BPM)

It is understood that the woman was so angered by Wallace’s behaviour that she commented about it on social media and tagged the presenter, stating his behaviour had been sexist and rude.

In his reply, which has been seen by the publication, Wallace asked if she was joking and for details of what happened. However, after she had replied with the time, date and details of his behaviour, she received no further response.

Express.co.uk has reached out to Gregg Wallace’s representatives for a comment. Her mother, who also attended the event, said she was “outraged” at the MasterChef presenter’s comments.

It is understood she emailed the BBC to complain, but she was not aware that any action had been taken and she had been left disappointed by the response.

A spokesperson said the BBC took complaints seriously and had robust processes to deal with them, but it would be inappropriate to comment on anything that might form part of the ongoing investigation by MasterChef’s production company, Banijay UK.

They said: “We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.

“Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company, we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.”