Ulrika Jonsson has claimed she was told that Gregg Wallace made a "rape joke" on the set of MasterChef.
Gregg is currently under investigation by production company Banijay UK over allegations of "sexualised" behaviour on several shows across a 17-year period. Since the news broke of the allegations against him, several stars have come forward with damning claims about his alleged on-set antics. The star's lawyer has said "it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature".
Now, Swedish star Ulrika has added to the growing number of people who have spoken out against the TV presenter. The former Gladiators host claimed the incident dates back to 2017, when she was a contestant on the celebrity version of the smash hit BBC show.
READ MORE: Gregg Wallace's love life and family as he leaves MasterChef over misconduct claims
READ MORE: Rod Stewart slams 'bully' Gregg Wallace and claims he 'humiliated' wife Penny Lancaster
Former Eurovision presenter Ulrika claimed in an interview with the Telegraph newspaper that the presenter had made remarks about rape while taping the series. The alleged comments reportedly left one of Ulrika's fellow competitors "really distressed", she claimed, before the woman walked off set leaving production staff confused.
Ulrika claimed that after the unnamed contestant walked off the set of MasterChef, she followed her and asked her what had happened. "She then told us that Gregg Wallace had made a rape joke," Ulrika claimed. "She was really distressed about it."
The joke was reportedly then retold to Ulrika before being flagged with a member of the production team. According to former weather presenter Ulrika, Gregg was pulled aside and spoken to about what he had done, though it is unclear who spoke to him.
"After a while he came up…and he apologised," Ulrika said. "He could hardly get his words out; he was apologising, and he had tears in his eyes."
While the incident is believed to have been sorted on set and not reported to production company Banijay, Ulrika said that Gregg should not have made the joke in the first place. It comes after a series of other stars have come forward with a slew of historical complaints against the BBC stalwart.
Former Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark claims that Gregg had made jokes of a "sexualised nature" while she was a contestant on the show back in 2011. On top of this, rock legend Sir Rod Stewart launched a tirade against Gregg on Thursday night (November 28), branding the host a "bully" after leaving wife Penny Lancaster "humiliated" by refusing to eat her food at the time.
Gregg himself has broken his silence in the wake of the claims made against him. In a video uploaded to his social media, he kept things brief as he said: "I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reaching out and showing their support; that's good of you - thank you very much."
The BBC has not formally commented on the claims being made against Gregg. However, BBC News said that on other occasions, the presenter talked "openly about his sex life, taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans".
Gregg's solicitors insist claims of him sexually harassing others are "entirely false". Meanwhile, show maker Banijay UK, who create the programme for the BBC, said John will be "stepping away" during the investigation.
Daily Star has contacted Gregg's representative for comment.
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