There are calls for a certain TV star to replace Gregg Wallace as a judge on MasterChef following the news that he has now stepped away from the long-running show.
It was announced last week that Gregg, 60, has stepped away from his role on the BBC show whilst its production company Banijay UK review apparent historical misconduct complaints. As reported by BBC News, his lawyers said it was 'entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature' and Gregg has since spoken out himself.
Following the news of his departure, there have been calls for food critic Grace Dent, 51, to join John Torode, 59, as a permanent judge on MasterChef. Former I'm A Celebrity campmate Grace has made guest appearances in the past.
Grace reminded fans that she has worked on the show in a post on Instagram on Sunday evening. It included a muted clip from the most recent series of Celebrity MasterChef, which showed Grace appearing as a guest judge in a semi-final episode that was broadcast back in September.
Gregg introduced her a "very special guest" to assist him and John in judging six contestants in the episode. She was met with excitement from the group, which included Steps member Ian 'H' Watkins and Strictly Come Dancing pro Vito Coppola.
She told them: "The brief today is to cook for me something comforting and something delicious, but we're gonna make it decadent. We're gonna make it luxurious. We're gonna take it to that next level. I want you to make me happy but I want you to expand my waistline."
Grace shared a clip from the scene in the post and it included subtitles that read: "The brief today is comfort food but with decadence. I want you to feed me skilfully, impress me, but also expand my waistline." Over the video she wrote "Celeb MC 2024" and mentioned hair stylist Lewis Pallett, makeup artist Topaz Knight and stylist Peter Bevan. Grace also tagged them in the caption alongside three heart emojis.
Some fans took to the comments section to express hope that Grace will become a permanent fixture in the franchise moving forward. One follower wrote: "New presenter please." Another said: "Would love to see Grace take over."
A third reacted: "Yes please. Grace to get the job." Someone wrote: "Grace for new judge." Another fan said: "Make Grace a full time judge." Alongside a laughing emoji, one person - seemingly referencing a comment made by Gregg recently - said: "We need more women of a certain age on our screen."
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BBC/Shine TV)It comes after it was announced on Thursday that Gregg would be stepping away MasterChef while allegations from 13 people that he made inappropriate sexual comments are investigated. The allegations are said to have been made by people working across a range of shows over a 17-year period.
Gregg spoke out in a video message shared over the weekend, telling fans: "I have been doing MasterChef for 20 years - amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef - and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds [and] all walks of life. And apparently now I am reading in the paper there's been 13 complaints in that time. Now in the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity Masterchef. This isn't right."
He continued: "In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo. Can you imagine?"
Gregg has however since apologised for "any offence" caused by the post. He said in a subsequent message: "I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people. I wasn't in a good headspace when I posted it, I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it. It's obvious to me I need to take some time out, now, while this investigation is under way I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology."
Last week, in a statement, Banijay UK, the production company behind MasterChef, said: "This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.
"While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process. Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set."
A BBC spokesperson said: "We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. 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."
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